Chapter 25:

At the bar:

Shego had left the Possible home, and traveled to the nearest bar. She had bought several rounds of the strongest drink they had, and was currently enjoying the feeling of the alcohol burning her throat, and the effect it was having on her. As she sat there downing drink after drink, she began to think back to what brought her there in the first place.

"Stupid Ayumi."

Shego muttered, taking another swig of her drink.

"She doesn't talk to me in god knows how long, then she decides to show up out of nowhere and decides she wants to get back together. Seriously, what the hell?"

As Shego sat there getting wasted, she was unaware that Ayumi had entered the bar.

"I should have known she'd be getting drunk."

Ayumi thought, making her way over to Shego.

"You always did like your alcohol."

Ayumi said, taking a seat next to Shego.

"Go away."

Shego's voice was cold, and she turned her back to Ayumi.

"Come on Ciel, can't we just talk?"

"We've talked enough today. Now, leave me alone. I'd like to finish getting drunk in peace."

Shego said, finishing another drink.

"Speaking of getting drunk, how much have you had to drink?"

"Why does it matter?"

"You shouldn't be drinking so much, it's not safe."

Ayumi said, giving Shego a look of concern.

"Why do you care anyway?"

Ayumi let out a sigh, and placed her hand onto Shego's shoulder.

"Ciel, listen. I care a lot about you. I know you don't believe me, but it's true. I care about you more than anything. I know I screwed up a lot when we were together, and for that I am truly sorry. Now, I want nothing more than to have another chance with you. Please Ciel, give me another chance."

"We've been over this. You know damn well I can't."

"Why? Because of Kim? Ciel she's taken. Also, need I remind you that she's straight? You don't have a chance with her."

"You don't know that for certain. Besides, you know I'd rather wait around for her than give you another chance."

"You're being unreasonable. I'm here asking, nay begging you to give me another chance and you're turning me down. Why won't you give me another chance? And don't you dare say it's because of Kim. I know she's not the only reason."

"You really wanna know? You really wanna know why I won't give you another goddamn chance?! You left me when I needed you most! I needed you, and you weren't there! Do you have any idea how much that hurts?! Do you?!"

Shego yelled, slamming her fist down on the bar and earning herself looks from fellow bar patrons.

Ayumi gave all of them an apologetic look, then turned her attention back to Shego.

"I thought you'd be better off without me."

Ayumi said, eyes downcast. Shego looked at Ayumi like she was insane.

"You thought I'd be better off without you? What the hell made you think that?!"

"I'm not sure. Maybe it was the fact that we were fighting a lot. It seemed like we couldn't go a day without going at it."

"Well a majority of our fighting was caused by you wanting to do things I didn't want to do."

"I wanted to take our relationship to the next level. What's so wrong with that?"

"I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready, but you weren't understanding that."

"I did understand."

"Oh yeah? Well if you understood why would you…"

Shego fell silent, unsure if she wanted to finish what she was saying.

"Why would I what?"

"Nothing, forget I said anything."

Shego said, attempting to stand but finding the task difficult.

"Need some help?"

"If I did I certainly wouldn't be asking you for it."

Shego then turned to leave and nearly said hello to the floor. Fortunately though, Ayumi was able to catch her in time and prevent her from doing so.

"Here, why don't I drive you home."

"I don't need your charity. I can get home just fine by myself."

Shego said, attempting to push Ayumi away but failing miserably.

"Would you stop being so damn stubborn for once and let me help you?"

"I don't need your help."

Shego seethed, yanking herself from Ayumi. Doing so however caused her to fall to the ground, and she groaned in pain. Ayumi just shook her head, and helped Shego to her feet.

"Come on, let's get you home."

Shego was about to protest again, but she decided against it as she began to feel the full effect of the alcohol.

Possible Residence:

After a rather difficult drive back to the Possible home, part due to Ayumi not knowing where she was going and the other part due to Shego's inability to properly give directions, Ayumi carried Shego upstairs to the guest room and sat her down on the bed.

"I could've made it up the stairs on my own."

Shego said, beginning to take off her shoes.

"Oh please, you couldn't even walk out of the bar without help."

"Whatever. Anyway, I'm home now so you can leave."

"And if I refuse to?"

Ayumi asked, crossing her arms and eyeing Shego.

"God I forgot how hot she looks when she does that."

Shego was unaware she had spoken aloud, until Ayumi asked her next question.

"So, you still think I'm hot?"

Shego blushed bright red and shifted her gaze elsewhere. Ayumi couldn't help but giggle at Shego's response.

"Poor Ciel, it never did take much to get you to blush."

"Th-That's not true."

Shego said, blushing even more.

"Hmm, is that so?"

Ayumi asked, sauntering over to Shego and putting a little extra sway into her hips. When she got closer she grabbed Shego's chin with her thumb and forefinger, then leaned in close.

"Seems to me like you're blushing an awful lot right now."

Shego could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she felt Ayumi's breath against her lips.

"Ayumi I…"

Shego was at a loss for words. Her drunken state and Ayumi's closeness were causing her head to spin.

"Please Ciel, give me another chance. I promise I'll treat you right."

Ayumi said, leaning in closer and brushing her lips against Shego's.

Shego wasn't sure if it was the effects of the alcohol or the fact that Ayumi was so close to her, but she soon found herself grabbing the young Japanese woman by her shirt and pulling her in for a deep kiss. Shego then laid back down on the bed, and pulled Ayumi along with her so that she was lying on top of her.

After a few minutes, the need for oxygen took over and they broke the kiss. They then stared at each other, cheeks flushed and breathing heavily.

Ayumi then took the opportunity to tuck a strand of hair behind Shego's ear, as she stared into her emerald green eyes. Shego stared back into Ayumi's baby blue eyes, the same eyes she had fallen in love with at one point, and she felt her heart flutter.

"I love you, Ciel. In fact, I never stopped loving you."

Ayumi's confession had surprised Shego, and she had no idea what to do or say. Noticing that Shego wasn't going to say anything, Ayumi took the opportunity to say what she needed to.

"Like I told you before, I know I messed up a lot in the past and I'm sorry. I hurt you and caused you a lot of pain, and you didn't deserve any of it. I tried to put my own needs above yours, and I let my temper get the best of me. I'm not asking you to forgive me, but I am asking you to give me another chance. A chance to love you the way I should have when we first got together."

Shego remained silent, and stared into Ayumi's eyes. As she stared into them she saw a mixture of regret and sadness. However, she also saw something else. She saw a certain look in her eyes that only she had ever been the recipient of. A look that said I love you no matter what. Seeing that look in Ayumi's eyes was causing Shego's heart to beat a mile a minute. She was still angry at Ayumi for all the pain she had caused her in the past, but at that moment having Ayumi so close to her felt right. Still though, there was something she had to know.

"How do I know you aren't lying to me? How do I know you won't go back to your old ways, if I give you another chance? How...How do I know you won't hurt me again?"

Ayumi reached out, and gently wiped a tear from Shego's cheek that the other woman hadn't realized had been falling.

"I know it will take time for you to believe me, but I promise I will never hurt you again. I-I don't want to lose you."

Ayumi could feel her own tears well up in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away.

Shego looked away from Ayumi, unable to meet her gaze any longer. Truth be told, she still loved Ayumi too, but she was also in love with Kim.

"Ayumi's right though, I don't have a chance in hell with Kim."

Shego thought, continuing to stare at the wall.

"Are you okay?"

Ayumi asked, gently cupping Shego's cheek. Shego let out a sigh, and turned her gaze back to Ayumi.

"Yeah."

Ayumi could hear the distance in Shego's voice, and she could tell something was on her mind.

"I know something's up. What is it?"

Shego let out a sigh, and once again turned her gaze elsewhere.

"I don't want to love you."

This time it was Ayumi's turn to be surprised.

"You love me?"

Shego remained silent, but it was okay. Ayumi already knew the answer. She then flipped their positions so that Shego was on top. Once Shego was lying comfortably on top of her, she wrapped her arms around Shego and held her close. As Shego laid there with her head against Ayumi's chest, she felt herself growing tired as she listened to the beating of Ayumi's heart.

After several minutes of comfortable silence, Shego's breathing had become deep and even. Indicating to Ayumi that she had fallen asleep.

"Sleep tight, Ciel."

Ayumi whispered. She then gave Shego a soft kiss on her forehead, before falling asleep herself.

End of chapter 25: