TITLE: Knots
AUTHOR: WotanAnubis
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters and am not making a profit.
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Kim/Shego
NOTE: I felt so inspired by Lex's "Surprise Visit" that I decided to write the unofficial official sequel. Enjoy.
* * * * *
She'd never really paid much attention to it before, but it was actually quite a nice apartment, much to Kim's surprise. Much to Kim's lack of surprise greens and blacks dominated, but there were a lot of homely little touches, giving the whole place a warm, comfy glow.
Kim stood up from the couch when Shego entered with her dreaded Aunt Gertie.
"Hi," said Kim, extending her hand in greeting.
"Nice to see you," Gertie said on automatic, shaking Kim's hand.
"Err... have a seat," said Shego.
"Thank you."
Shego's aunt determinedly walked to the couch and sat down next to Kim.
"Would you like some tea?" Shego asked, radiating awkwardness.
"Maybe later," said Gertie. "I'd like to see the album first."
-----
"We have to what?" Kim yelled through the phone.
"Look, it wasn't exactly my idea," Shego responded panicky. "But you promised to pretend to be my wife."
"Pretend, yes, exactly. I wasn't planning on having a ceremony."
"Just a fake one! We'll take a few pictures and it'll be fine."
"OK, Shego, you really need to get over your aunt complex."
"Come on, Kim, help me out here. I mean, I gave up a life of crime in exchange for just five minutes of your help. I think you still owe me."
Kim sighed. "Fine, fine," she said.
-----
"Hmm," said Gertie, leafing through the album. "Out in the open air, I see."
"Well, you see," said Kim. "I'm a w..."
Shego, who had sat down on the opposite side of her aunt, started waving her hands frantically.
"I mean, I'm p..." Kim tried.
Slicing motions across the neck indicated that this wasn't the right response either.
"We couldn't find a church," said Kim.
Shego breathed out slowly.
"So what do you call this then?"
"It's a handfasting ceremony," said Shego.
Gertie sniffed. "How... modern," she said.
-----
It had seemed like such a silly little notion. Tying your hands together with red cord? Oh sure, it was probably very symbolic of something, but it probably didn't actually mean anything. Not to mention that this wasn't a real marriage of any kind, but just some trickery to fool Shego's aunt.
And yet...
They'd written vows. They didn't have to since pictures don't speak anyway, but still they had. And Kim had spoken them, as had Shego. And as she spoke them, Kim felt as if she really meant them. She couldn't quite understand why, but she'd wanted those vows to be true. She wanted some time to think about that.
But she couldn't think about that now. The 'official' part of the ceremony was over, but the red rope still connected Kim's hand to Shego's. And all Kim could think of was how much she wanted it to stay that way.
-----
"Say," said Gertie, as she flipped a page. "How legal is this?"
"Well, it could've been legal," said Kim. "If we'd wanted it to."
"But it's not," said Gertie. "Does that mean..."
"It means," said Shego, "that when I asked my Kim to marry me, I wasn't talking about civil unions."
"Oh," said Gertie with obvious disappointment. "Say, who's that woman with the eyepatch?"
Kim looked over her shoulder. "Oh, that's... Betty. She's a friend."
"She looks military," said Gertie in the tone of voice of someone who has Views on that sort of thing.
"You know, auntie, this is still the 21st century, you know," said Shego.
"Hmm," said Gertie. "You know, I don't see a lot of people from your side of the family, Shego, dear."
"Yeah, because they'd all react so well to me marrying a woman," said Shego.
"Hmm," said Gertie. She closed the book and put in on the table. "Well, no rings, but I suppose you really did get married."
"That's right," said Shego.
"To be honest, I thought you and Kim here merely pretended to be together to get me out of your hair."
"Oh no," said Shego. "Whyever would you think that?"
"Well, you were never very enthusiastic about all those nice boys I tried to set you up with."
"There was a very good reason for that," said Shego.
"So I see," said Gertie.
"Now then," said Kim. "Would you like something to drink."
"No, no, thank you," said Gertie, getting up. "I need to get going."
"Right," said Shego. "Let me walk you to the door."
-----
"Oh thank God," Shego sighed, leaning against the door as it clicked shut behind her. "Kim, I owe you big."
"Not really," said Kim, sauntering up to Shego. "What with you giving up crime, I'd say we're about even."
"Fine," said Shego. "So I take it you'll be leaving now as well."
Kim hesitated. "Actually... I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"Well... I mean... when all is said and done... we did perform a handfasting."
"Yeah, but that..." Shego paused when her brain picked up the tone in Kim's voice and beat her around the head with it. "We did, didn't we?"
"So, since you're my wife for a little less than a year and a day now, I think we should, you know, get to know each other better?"
Shego blinked. And smiled. "I'll make spaghetti for dinner. How does that sound?"
Kim smiled back. "Very nice."