Chapter 31:
Go City:
After searching around for Shego, Ayumi finally found her sitting underneath a tree in the backyard.
She then took a seat next to Shego, and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
"Are you okay, love?"
Shego nodded her head, and leaned further into Ayumi's touch.
"You know Kim didn't mean to hurt your feelings, right? I think she just forgot that you have them."
"Yeah, I know."
Ayumi could hear the sadness in her lover's voice, and it pained her to have to listen to it.
"Move in with me."
"What?"
"Move in with me."
"Ay, don't you think it's a little soon for that? Besides, we've only been back together again for two weeks."
"True, but we've known each other for a lot longer. Come on Ciel, move in with me."
"I don't know."
"What's stopping you?"
"Nothing really, but moving in together is a big step for us to take as a couple."
"I know it is, and I can understand if you're nervous. Be honest though, do you really want to go have dinner tonight with people that would probably much rather wring your neck, than eat dinner with you?"
"Not really, but Kim, her parents, and her brothers have all treated me like family. And it's been awhile since I was treated like an actual person, rather just some object or weapon."
"So, you're saying you want to go to dinner?"
"Kinda."
"In that case I'd better go with you."
"You don't have to do that."
"Trust me, I do. You and I both know how bad your temper can be, when you're around people that you know don't like you."
"I'll let you know my temper has gotten better."
"Still, I'd rather not take the risk. Besides, don't you want them to think you've changed for the better?"
"Well yeah."
"Then you're gonna need someone to keep you in line."
"Something tells me you'll be joining me for dinner, no matter what I say."
"Yep. So come on, let's go tell Kim she'll be graced with my presence at dinner."
Ayumi then stood up, and walked back into the house.
"This should be interesting."
Shego thought, getting up and following Ayumi.
After Ayumi had informed Kim that she'd be joining them for dinner, the three women headed to the Possible home.
Possible Residence:
"We're home."
Kim called out, walking through the front door of the house with Shego and Ayumi following close behind.
"We're in the kitchen."
Anne called back. Kim then made her way into the kitchen, with Shego and Ayumi following behind.
When they got there they could see that Kim's uncle Slim and cousin Joss were already there.
"Hey Kim, it's great to see. How ya been?"
Slim asked, walking over to his niece and giving her a hug.
"I've been good. How are things on the ranch?"
"They've been good."
Slim then looked over and saw Shego standing just a few feet behind Kim.
"What's she doing here?"
Slim asked, his expression turning cold.
"I live here now. Ya got a problem with that?"
"As a matter of fact I do."
"Well too bad. Besides, Kim's the one that said I could stay here."
Slim's jaw dropped, and he turned his attention back to Kim.
"Is that true? Did you really say she could stay here?"
"Yeah, as long as she doesn't do anything evil, and she hasn't. She's changed a lot."
"Well we still don't trust her."
Joss said, finally joining in on the conversation.
"I don't trust you either, so it looks like we're even."
Shego sneered, glaring daggers at Joss.
"I should have known joining them for dinner was going to be a bad idea."
Shego mumbled, her attention now focused on her girlfriend.
"And who might you be?"
Joss asked, noticing the unknown occupant in the kitchen.
"I'm Ayumi, her girlfriend."
Ayumi said, gesturing towards Shego.
Joss just looked back and forth at the couple, but didn't say anything more.
"Alright, I think that's enough introductions for one evening. Let's go eat dinner."
James said, wanting to cut through the tension that seemed to be building in the kitchen.
He then ushered everyone into the dining room, and they all took a seat at the table.
After the food was served and everyone began eating, Shego could feel herself growing irritated by the looks Joss and Slim were giving her.
"Stop staring at me!"
Shego snapped, eyes locked onto the two people sitting across from her. Ayumi placed her hand onto Shego's shoulder, in an effort to calm her down. It seemed to work because she visibly relaxed.
"You know, if you have something to say to her just say it."
Ayumi said, not even bothering to look at Slim and Joss.
"I'm sorry, we didn't mean to stare."
Slim said.
"We were just wonderin' how she got that bruise on her face, and why she ain't green."
Joss said.
"Anubis stole my powers, when I tried to steal something from him. Never try to steal from a god. As far as the bruise goes, I was drunk and ran into a door."
Shego said.
"That's a damn lie."
Kim said, earning a look from her uncle and cousin.
"I'm talking about how she got the bruise, not the Anubis thing."
"How'd she get the bruise then?"
Slim asked.
"She won't say, but I know it wasn't because she got drunk and ran into a door. Besides, I don't think she would've been crying if that were the case."
"She actually cried?"
Joss asked, a look of shock clear across her face.
"So, I cried. It doesn't mean anything though."
Shego said, sounding defensive. She then got up and left the table.
"I think you need to stop asking her about the bruise. She obviously doesn't want to talk about it."
Ayumi said. She then got up to go after Shego.
"She's right, let's just change the subject."
James said, trying to keep things calm at the dinner table. Everyone else agreed with him, and the subject changed to asking Kim and the twins about school.
Meanwhile upstairs in the guest room, Shego was trying to get her temper under control, but she wasn't having much luck. Even Ayumi was having difficulty getting her to calm down.
"Babe, it's okay. Just breathe."
"How can I breathe, when people like to pry into my personal life?!"
Ayumi let out a sigh, then walked over to Shego and wrapped her arms around her.
"I know you're frustrated, but you need to relax. Getting yourself all worked up won't help anything."
"I know. I just wish people would stop asking me about it."
"They'll stop eventually. I should've never hit you in the first place though. All of this could've been avoided had I just kept my temper in check."
Ayumi's voice had a guilty tone to it, and Shego picked up on it.
"You aren't entirely to blame."
"What do you mean?"
"I should've been more willing. I want to be with you, but I keep letting the past get in the way."
"I want to be with you too. But I don't want to take that big of a step with you, until I know you're ready."
"Yeah, I know."
Shego then wrapped her arms around Ayumi, and hugged her tight. Just needing to be held.
"Let's head back to my place."
"You mean our place."
Shego said, her lips forming into a smile.
"Heh right, our place."
End of chapter 31: