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As a warm feeling began to spill onto my face, I gave a groan of annoyance when I saw the dull color of orange behind my eyelids. I squeezed my eyes to shut it out, seeing total darkness as my body began to rouse from its deep slumber. The first thing I had noticed was the throbbing headache that greeted me in the morning, punishing me as a result of too many drinks. God, I hate hangovers. It makes me wonder if drinking was ever even worth it last night. Actually, I don't even remember much of what I did last night. The only thing I do remember is going to Arty's and heading somewhere after that. Then and I had this...dream about Kimmie. I shivered at the thought of it, whether it was from pleasure or shame, I couldn't tell.

Opening my eyes in my hazy wonder, I found myself squinting at gently flowing curtains of an open window that failed to keep out the morning sun. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I don't remember leaving the window open.

As I looked around the room, I noticed that it was unfamiliar to me. I did not have a pink carpet floor nor a queen sized bed with matching sheets. I heaved a heavy sigh. Damn alcohol... This was not the first time I had awakened in a stranger's bed, but the odd thing was that I had a feeling that this was no stranger. I took a breath to gather my strength to sneak out, but what my senses had caught made my heart skip a beat.

Strawberries.

It smelled like strawberries.

My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. No way. This couldn't be. I looked around the room once again, hoping to prove myself wrong, but the room slowly became familiar. School rewards proudly presented themselves alongside with pictures of people hanging on the white walls. Many unfamiliar faces smiled back at me as if they knew this was going to happen and that they were truly happy about it. I didn't know what to feel. Too many emotions were running through me that I could not register them. Then, there was an unmistakable flame of red hair and jaded eyes. And I knew right then and there that last night was not a dream.

This...this room. This couldn't be happening, right? This had to be a dream! Slowly, I looked over to my right, wondering if I was going to find who I thought this room belonged to.

But the space on the bed was empty.

The heavy feeling in my stomach eased, but only slightly. My mind was racing and I couldn't help but remember what had happened last night that caused me to end up where I am now.

I got out of the bed, staring at it as if it were some eccentric object I dared not to touch. Memories flashed in my mind, replaying the events that had taken place in this very room. Actions that I regret. Actions that may have finally destroyed the unspoken bond between Kim and I. The bond that was formed many years ago now lay before me, shattered in a million pieces with no knowing of how to fix it.

Could I ever fix it?

I took shaky breath, trying to calm myself. My hands ran through my messy hair and down my face, lingering on my lips that had touched another's.

"Had a nice rest?" sarcastic words asked me and I looked up at the woman who had entered the room.

There she was, standing across the room and leaning on a crutch for support for her injured ankle. Her expression was hard to look at, even worse to receive. The way her lips formed a thin line and the air around her that usually emitted determination and courage was now dark with anger, frustration, and betrayal. There she stood, the victim of my mistakes.

"Kim I..."

"You what?" she glared, causing me to nearly wince at her venomous words. There was only one time she had used that tone with me, that night when she said that she hated me. And now...now I'm pretty sure she despises me, loathes me.

"I'm..." I swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."

The rusty words were barely loud enough even over the singing birds outside. Was I really this affected by her? No, my own faults? Or was I too closed off in order to properly say the words they were meant to be used?

"You're sorry?" she repeated. "Is that all? What do you expect me to say now? 'Oh, it's okay, Shego, I forgive you!'"

I looked at her, not knowing what to say. Her body language was dominating the conversation, her words baring the cold, hard truth.

"This is so the drama," she said, tightening her fists.

"I know..."

"No, you don't!" she snapped. "Do you know what you've done?" she shook her head. "Actually, I'm pretty sure that you don't know what you're doing anymore. Just look at where we stand now, Shego!"

This attitude she was giving me was so foreign, something that almost made me think that she wasn't the real Kim Possible. But I knew, I knew that this frustrated woman was the result of my own faults.

"This isn't something that can be easily forgiven and forgotten, Shego!"

"I know!" I raised my voice, my annoyance increasing. I took a breath to keep my anger in check, but I was barely getting by. She looked at me with surprise at my sudden change of tone before reverting back into a heated glare.

"I'm... I know that those words can't make up for all that I've done."

I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment before opening them once again. "I don't know what I can do to make you forgive me, as a matter of fact...you may never."

I gave her a look with a fire burning within me as if something had been set off inside of me.

"You know what?" I said, turning to the window and slipping half of my body out of it, "If you won't take my words, then I'll just have to put them into action."

Before she could even reply, I had already left the room before my anger had gotten the best of me.

Lately, the days have been slowly getting cooler, something that I was feeling a bit melancholy about. I suppose it was mostly due to the events that I've been through lately that made it unbearable, not to mention the lack of vacation. The family reunion didn't count as a vacation. That was hell on earth. I sighed, waiting for my floor to arrive as I took a sip from my afternoon coffee. When Dr. Drakken is done with his last mission I'm definitely going on vacation to somewhere to make up for missing out on suntanning.

At last, the elevator gave a ring when the number 30 glowed above the doors. It was pretty stupid to have that many floors for a lair that's going to go to ruins sooner or later. I had said the same thing to Dr. Drakken, but being the stubborn idiot he was - saying that he wanted the highest view of the city and its people he was going to 'conquer'- my words had fallen deaf to his floppy Dumbo ears.

The elevator doors slid open and I took a sip of my coffee again for the extra boost. Just as I walked out, I saw a blue blur coming towards me and instinctively I sidestepped, causing my employer to tumble into the elevator. He crashed against the wall with a thud and fell to the floor due to knocking his big head on it. Groaning, Dr. Drakken got to his feet and turned around just as the doors were closing.

"SHEGO! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

The doors shut before he got to exit. I calmly sipped my coffee, watching the numbers shrink as his voice fainted along with it.

"I CALLED YOU SO MANY TIMES-"

I raised my eyebrows, surprised to find his voice still audible behind the doors.

"I was so worried!"

The numbers kept shrinking.

"Are you okay? I-"

As if nothing had happened, I strode over to my usual rolling chair and sat down with my feet folded under me. I typed a few things on the control pad and accessed the elevator camera and nearly jumped out of my seat when I saw the camera being face with hairy nostrils and a big mouth.

"SHEEEEGGGOOOOOOOOO! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

I muted his annoying voice when my ears were pierced violently and played Yakety Sax and watched the screen with a grin on my face. The music only made watching my employer even funnier as he began waving his arms around like a lunatic as he said something that made his veins bulge. Suddenly, he began running around in circles and stopped in the middle saying some more stuff and gesturing with his hands. Then he looked as though he were struggling to open an invisible jar before shaking it violently and throwing it at the wall to which he screamed at and stomped around like a child. I bellowed a laugh that sprung tears to my eyes and gave me a cramp. Now this was what I needed.

Shaking my head, I switched the screen back to the live view of Middleton from our lair. The afternoon sun hung over the city in its blinding white form, beaming down at its people. Although it may seem like the sun was at its strongest, the weather outside was actually cooler than the last few days.

Looking at the city, it made me wonder what Dr. Drakken had in mind for his last plan. He said that it would be his last act of evil, but I doubted that it would be any different than his other failed inventions. The odd thing was that he never told me specifically what it was. My brows knitted together in thought. Why was he keeping it a secret?

The elevator gave a ring, announcing the arrival of Dr. Darken. To my surprise, he was still talking when I turned around in my seat.

"Shego! How could you let me stay in there? I was trying to talk to you but you just sidestepped when I tried to welcome you back home after worrying so much! I was so worried when you didn't show up. Where have you been? I tried asking you that question but the doors shut on me. Did I mention that I couldn't open another jar, but this time it was a jar of pickles! I swear that jars hate me!"

He had said all that under one breath and I just grinned at him as I drank the rest if my coffee. But no later than that I had spit it out, covering my employer in coffee.

It wasn't his long, speedy speech that had caused me to spit it out nor would I ever intend to do it on purpose. Spitting out like that was just disgusting and I wouldn't waste a good frappuccino like that.

For the millionth time, my mother made her dramatic entrance with a tray full of coco moo. Behind her trailed my brothers, all with grins except for Mego. My mom greeted me with a bright smile as she walked over to me, holding the tray out.

"Hi chickadee! I brought you some coco moo!" She then looked over at Dr. Drakken who was stuttering as he stared at his coffee stained clothes and dripping hair. "Oh, what happened to you?"

"'Lil sis!" Hego said, lifting me out of the chair to hug me. He squeezed me tight with his muscular arms that squeezed me tight against a rock hard chest. I wheezed for air, struggling out of the hold.

"Let...go!" I kicked him as hard as I could in his...special place and he dropped me with a howl. That was Hego's only weakness despite his super strength.

I glared at my older brother as I took large breaths and rubbed my sore ribs.

"Hey, since you have your own drink, I'll take your coco moo," Mego said, taking my supposed glass only to be swatted away from my mom.

"No Marcus! You've had your drink already."

Mego grumbled under his breath but knew better than to argue with mom. Instead he plopped down on the sofa next to Hego who was still writhing in pain, and flicked the television on.

"Mom..." I growled, narrowing my eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, honey, I was just worried about you! How could I not be?" she leaned forward a bit as she mumbled, "after what happened between you and your girlfriend..."

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Did you guys break up?" the twins asked.

"Cause y'know," one Wego said.

"That would totally suck since she's so cool," the other completed.

I frowned at the comment. Did they really believe that Kimmie was my girlfriend? Either they were still naive or that we just seemed legit. Hego, being the dumb dolt he is, would probably believe it and think that Kim was going to convert me back into a hero. Mego probably had his suspicions.

I glanced at my mom who only raised her eyebrows in return. She set the tray on the table and guided Dr. Drakken into the kitchen, offering to help clean himself up.

I was left with my two younger brothers awaiting my response. Hego and Mego had peeled their eyes away from the television, listening in on the conversation.

"I..."

Looking at all my brothers I, for once, found myself stumped between telling the truth and a lie. Would it change anything if I continued on with the lie? Would they demand to see Kimmie and I together again to prove myself? Or would they go out their way to confront Kimmie who would probably spill the beans for revenge? But she didn't seem like the vengeful type. Then again, anything was Possible for a Possible; especially a pissed one.

What if I just bared the truth at last? Would they be angry at me for lying to them? But a lie from me was nothing new to them. It would certainly crush Hego's hopes and Mego would just claim glory of his 'genuis' brain and observatory skills. The twins on the other hand would be affected the most. They obviously liked Kimmie ever since the the first time they met each other a few years back and worked alongside with the hero. Not to mention the fact they still look up to me. Despite me being a villain, I was still their older sister.

"Kim and I..."

I sighed, finally coming up with my decision after weighing the pros and cons of both paths. There was no going back after saying this. There was no: 'Just kidding guys!' or brushing off the question and changing the subject.

This was it.

"We're not together."

Mego was the first to react, responding with a harrumph as he turned his attention back to the television. The twins' worried faces were finally crushed by the truth and it pained me on the inside to see that.

"So...does this mean you'll still join us aga- agh!" Hego flinched at the hit Mego had given him and I glared at my brother and his poorly chosen words.

"No you big dolt! Jesus, how stupid can you get? Isn't it obvious she's never gonna come back no matter what we do?"

"So you and Kim are never getting back together?" one Wego asked, his words slowly spoken as if he had to think while saying them.

"Truth is guys, Kimmie and I were never together."

"So...does that mean you never planned on-"

"Oh, shut your big hole and save us some sanity before you complete another stupid question!" Mego said.

Hego look hurt at his brother's comment but stayed quiet nonetheless.

"What?"

I gestured them to sit in the free space of the sofa while I took a single chair and sat with my brothers. Mego, surprisingly, turned off the tv and looked at me as did his siblings.

I stared at the five empty glasses on the table; one still filled with coco moo. I didn't know how to explain my story, nor was I sure if I wanted to. But it was too late to go back now. I had to finish what I started and this was only the beginning.

"My relationship with Kim was all pretend. We weren't... girlfriends at all," I explained, watching their expressions. "We...I made a deal with mom. I said that if I went to the family reunion she would leave me alone and never come looking for me. But that was if I went to the family reunion with Kimmie. I don't know why she wanted me to go with her, but knowing mom, she would not back down. And the rest of the story you already know."

They were all quiet for a moment, letting my story sink in.

"But you guys seemed so..." one of the Wegos said, his words trailing off.

"Legit?" I gave a small laugh. "That's acting for you."

"Hold up a minute," Mego said, shaking his head and putting his hand up. He leaned forward, coming out of his 'I don't care' look and into a stern gaze that matched our father's. "You're telling me that everything you two did was all for show? Every kiss, every gesture, all the stories?"

I nodded.

"So I wasted my life coming here for a lie?"

"Hey, Mego," Hego said, sounding like a parent scolding a child, "we didn't come here for nothing. We came here for our sister. You shouldn't be so hard on her after what she's been through."

Mego laughed, throwing his head back. "'I shouldn't be so hard on her?' Are you kidding? Shego's never been there for us after all these years! And you want me to forgive and forget?"

I tried not to flinch at the familiar words that had been spoken to me the other day.

"I'm just saying that..."

"That what?" Mego said, daring Hego to go on. My eldest brother really had nothing to back himself up. Neither did I. Mego was right, he shouldn't have to go out of his way to forgive and forget all that I've done.

Mego looked between Hego and I, a satisfied look on his face. "Exactly what I thought." He turned his gaze to me, his eyes narrowing just a bit. "And let me guess, you're not going to do a single freakin' thing about her."

I gave him a look. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you're not going to even try to get her? You may say that you're acting, but from my point of view you're looking pretty down in the dumps after a so called 'pretend' relationship."

"That's because I just apologized to her after all that I've put her through," I said, the words spilling from my mouth with my intention. Great, now I probably lowered my reputation and bruised my ego even further.

"You, Shego, apologized?" Mego asked in disbelief and then let out a laugh.

Yep, there goes my ego.

I glared at my brother. "What? You thought that I wasn't capable of saying two stupid words?" I asked, irritated as I felt a heat rush to my face.

"Nope."

I growled, wanting to jump out of my seat and punch the hell out of him. He had some nerve!

"What I'm laughing about is that I hope you're planning on doing much more than saying 'two stupid words.'"

My anger subsided. I stared at my brother who was sitting on the sofa with a a look in his eyes and I found myself smiling a little. Behind all the sarcastic and cold truth, this was Mego's way of knocking some sense into me.

"Don't worry, I'm planning on doing much more than 'two stupid words.'"

"See you sis," Hego said, giving me a tight hug, but this one was much softer than his greeting. "Don't let what Mego said get you down, okay?"

"Tch, whatever," I said, but couldn't help but give him a smile. He obviously didn't catch what Mego was trying to say beneath it all. Of course it would be Hego who wouldn't be able to comprehend things like these.

The twins wasted no time to hug me. As seventeen year olds their height had increased the last time I saw them. They now had me looking up a few inches at them.

"You're not mad at me for lying to you?" I asked them during the hug. They pulled back with matching smiles.

"A little upset, but not angry," one of them said.

"But after you explained yourself, we feel for ya sis," the other smiled.

I smiled back in return, glad for their understanding. "Thanks guys."

"Ditto," the said in unison, giving me a fist bump.

Mego was hesitant to give me a hug, trying to seem cool. I quirked an eyebrow at his attitude and just snorted.

"Why do we always do this?"

"I dunno, maybe 'cause I just don't want to..." he stopped mid sentence at my testing look. Then he gave me a cheeky grin. "Just messing with you."

We gave each other a brief hug and he joined the rest of our brothers as they walked to the Go Team jet. My mother lingered behind to say her goodbyes to me last and I prepared myself for what I knew was more than a goodbye.

"Why did you come here?" I asked her. "I thought we had a deal."

"Because we care about you. Even though you're not with us like you used to be, you're still family; family is there for family. Besides," she added with a small smirk, "you said to never come looking for you to force you to go to a family reunion. This visit wasn't for a family reunion."

I shook my head with a smile at her last response. Leave it to my mom to get technical and sneaky around words.

Then I thought about Kimmie. Did I really look that down about her? I realized that this was how much one woman could affect me. The thought of pursuing her seemed tempting, but What if I was wrong? What if she was genuinely in love... with Daniel? Would I finally shatter what was left of our broken bond?

"Hey," my mom said, pulling me out of my deepening thoughts.

Her eyes were soft and warm and the way her forehead wrinkled with concern, showed the genuine care of a mother. Her aging hands slowly reached out to me as if she didn't want to scare me. Part of me wanted to push her away, fearing the vulnerability it would show, but the other half of me longed for a mother's embrace after a long and cold journey.

Hesitant, I stepped closer into her arms, allowing her to embrace me. I just stood there in her arms, forgetting what I was doing or what I was supposed to do. Then, at the scent of her apple perfume I found my eyes closing slowly and my heavy arms lifting themselves to wrap themselves around her. It took all my strength to fight back the urge to push her away, to go back into my hard shell that I've created over the years. It's been a long time since I've hugged my mother like this.