Prologue: Set the Stage

Three months… Kim thought as she drove The Sloth toward Upperton. It had been three months since the world met The Lowardians, three months since Kim and Ron took their relationship up another notch. Kim was miserable. The Lowardian Invasion changed Ron. The lovable goof died after the invasion, replaced by a man who worried about her constantly and was protective to the point of smothering. Kim worried about the effects of the invasion on her friend. Kim was almost certain Ron had PTSD from the experience, manifested in his new overprotective nature. Kim had a varied degree herself, but she had her "therapy sessions" to fall back on. Ron had no way to vent his traumas. Scratch that. The blonde did. However, he did not want to burden Kim with such things. Kim felt locked out and knew unless Ron opened up, this relationship was in a downward spiral.

Kim's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly at the thought of breaking up with Ron. Kim took a deep breath and released it slowly in an effort to clear her mind of that painful thought. Kim got out of the car and looked up at a large house. It would be inconspicuous among the expensive houses in the neighborhood if it was not for the color scheme: green and black. Kim let a smile grow on her face at the sight of the house. Kim walked up to the door and tried to knock. Before Kim could knock, the door swung open.

"Kimmie, I've been wanting." Shego said as she smiled when Kim bristled at the nickname.

"Why the nicknames, Shego?" Kim asked with a growl. "We're not enemies anymore."

Shego shook her head. "What if I like those nicknames?" The green woman asked with a smile.

The genuine smile from Shego threw Kim off. Instead of probing Shego for more answers, Kim attacked. Speed and beautifully executed moves made Shego wonder if Kim's anger unblocked some hidden power in the redhead. Shego watched Kim attack, but Kim was off balance. At first, Kim was controlled and powerful. Then, as the fight progressed, Kim's anger began to disrupt her fighting rhythm. What's wrong with you, Cupcake? Shego thought. Analyzing Kim's moves as she fought, Shego frowned. Anger, pain, confusion… The woman thought as her worry for the redhead grew. What's hurting you, Kim? Shego asked herself as she sent Kim to the ground in a headlock thanks to a scissor kick from the green woman.

Kim looked at Shego in shock. "You never beat me…" Kim complained. Then, the redhead's eyes widened and her cheeks colored because the hero was pinned with a perfect view of Shego's crotch.

"See something you like, Princess?" Shego asked with a smirk.

Kim glared at Shego and craned her neck, still in the locked position, to see Shego's face. "I'm with Ron!" Kim growled defiantly.

Shego raised an eyebrow as her smirk widened into a nefarious grin as she thought, Denial by deflection. "Did I strike a nerve, Pumpkin?"

Kim only glared harder. Then, Kim spun out of the lock, throwing Shego to the dirt in the process. Momentarily surprised, Shego almost took a haymaker to the face as Kim ran at the downed green woman, but her enhanced reflexes allowed Shego to get back to a standing position before the punch could connect. Shego caught the punch and rushed Kim. Kim had no choice but to backpedal to keep her captive wrist from being broken. Pinned against the back wall of the house, Kim still glared definitely at Shego. "Trouble in paradise with Ron?" Shego asked with a concerned expression.

"What…do you care?" Kim growled. "You hate Ron!" Kim was so angry. She didn't even realize Shego said Ron's name instead of "Buffoon" like she normally would.

"Kimmie, those alien punks would screw with anybody's head. I still have nightmares about it!" Shego said as she shivered at Kim's phantom final scream as it rolled through the woman's mind unbidden. "Now, tell me. What's wrong?"

"It's Ron." Kim began as Shego nodded. "I know he has troubles with that night, but he won't open up to me!" Kim's eyes blazed with anger. "Why can't he be honest with me like you are?!"

There it is! Shego thought triumphantly. "Maybe Ron is scared you'll think less of him."

Kim blinked as she looked at Shego. She's right. Ron has always had self-esteem issues. A spontaneous urge to kiss Shego sprang up in Kim. Indecision rolled across Kim's face as she considered what to do. "I want to kiss you…" Kim said lamely as she looked away, unable to meet Shego's piercing green eyes. "…but I don't want to hurt Ron."

Shego let go of Kim's arm and looked around her fenced in and spacious back yard. "I don't see him anywhere." She said calmly.

Kim shook her head. "This is wrong!" She said as she started to shake. "I shouldn't want to kiss you!" Kim said as her voice became quiet. "It's just like when you saved me from being killed by Warmonga!" Kim admitted as she added in her head, …only MUCH stronger.

Shego pulled Kim into a close embrace. The heat of Shego's breath on Kim's neck made Kim melt in the older woman's arms. Shego gently brought Kim's face up to look at hers. The last of Kim's defiance faded as Kim pushed up on her tiptoes and met Shego's lips in a tender kiss. Tears rolled down Kim's face as her heart exploded in a chaotic rhythm. Ron's never kissed me with so much passion! Kim thought as she she let the tears fall and did not try to quench them. The pair stayed like that until Kim broke so she could breathe.

S-Shego…I…we…" Kim tried hard to put her words together, but her mind was in the clouds and had no time for going back to Earth to think straight.

Kim's mind was brought crashing back to earth by a single voice, "KP, what are you doing with HER?!"

Kim's momentary happiness fled at the voice of Ron. Kim looked past Shego to a black clad man. His eyes glowed blue with power that overshadowed his usually calm brown eyes. Considering that the only thing Kim could see was Ron's eyes in the ninja garb, he looked more monstrous in that moment than human. Without speaking a word more, Ron attacked Shego. The duel lasted for a good twenty minutes. Then, Shego added her plasma into the mix and quickly sent Ron running.

Once the Buffoon was gone, Kim looked at Shego as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest and started crying. "Kim, what happened to you?" Shego asked as she hugged the shivering hero.

"After the invasion, Ron demanded I quit the heroic deeds because he wanted to protect me." Kim shivered. "I didn't want to, but Ron destroyed the Kimmunicator and ordered Wade to pull my site down."

In other words, he broke you, Princess. Shego thought as she felt her anger spike but held it back for the time being. Turning to Kim, Shego smiled. "Where does Wade live?" Shego asked with a frown.

Kim looked at her and glared. "Shego, what are you going to do?"

Shego Shook her head. "I'm not telling. It's a surprise. No harm will come to the Nerdlinger."

For some reason, Kim could sense the sincerity in Shego's voice and nodded. "Alright, here." Kim said as she handed Shego a slipof paper with an address on it.

When Kim and Shego got to Wade's house, Kim knocked on the door. Slowly the door opened, and in front of them stood Wade. "Hey, Kim. I've got your new Kimmunicator ready, and I had one made up for Diana, too."

Kim looked between Wade and Shego in shock as the light slowly came back into eyes. YOU TOTALLY ROCK, Wade!" Kim said as she hugged the boy tight and looked at Shego. "Diana, huh?" Kim asked with a raised eyebrow.

The ebony-headed woman in question only nodded. "If we are going to be partners, you need to know my name."

Kim just stared at the green woman. "Shego, I'm…not ready…"

Diana had a hard time holding in her laughter. "Jeez, Kimmie, CRIME FIGHTING partners." Diana grinned mischievously. "Although, waking up next to you everyday sounds good, too."

Kim only blushed redder than her hair in response.