Remember me

Upon arriving in Middleton, Shego headed straight for the Possible residence. She wanted to see Kim, even knowing Kim wouldn’t want to see her. She landed the hovercraft in the backyard and activated her cloaking device. Then, with slow, measured steps, she made her way to the front of the house.

From there, she could hear the sounds of home—voices, movement, the familiar hum of a family preparing for dinner. Instinctively, her pace slowed until, just before rounding the corner toward the front door, she stopped completely.

That was when she felt it—her heart beating faster than usual, her breath turning shallow, her palms growing clammy with cold sweat.

Frustration hit her like a punch to the gut. Since when did she start acting like some nervous schoolgirl about to face her first love? But then, with a cruel kind of irony, she had to admit the truth—she was in love. Had been for a long time.

And yet, this wasn’t the first time she’d stood at this doorstep looking for Kim.

The memory of the first time she met the Possibles after their relationship became public surfaced unbidden. She remembered how Kim had opened the door that day, how she had greeted her with that radiant smile—the kind that could light up Shego’s entire world. A sharp ache settled in her chest as she found herself wishing, just for a second, that history could repeat itself. But she wasn’t that naïve. This time, Kim would greet her with anything but a smile.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the weight of those thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she ran her hands down the fabric of her pants in a useless attempt to dry them. Then, with a sigh, she brushed a hand over her face and turned away. Maybe it would be better to try another day.

—Sheryl.

Dr. Possible’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

—Dad, —she responded as she turned around, managing a small smile.

—Aren’t you coming in? You’ve been standing here for a while. At least say hello.

—I’m sorry, Dad… I thought maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. But… how did you know I was here?

—The twins saw you on the security cameras.

—Ah… so they’re up and running now. Guess I was too distracted to notice, —she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck, a bit embarrassed.

James shrugged with a half-smile.

—You looked like you were debating something. Want to talk about it?

—It’s nothing important, don’t worry.

—It’s about Kim, isn’t it?

Shego let out a breath, her shoulders sagging slightly, as if part of her strength had drained away.

—Yeah.

—Come on, walk with me for a bit, —James invited, his tone warm.

—But you’re about to have dinner. I don’t want to intrude.

—It’s fine. We can eat later. Right now, I want to talk.

Shego hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, stepping up beside him as they began walking through the quiet neighborhood streets.

—Sheryl, all of this with Kim… it’s hard for everyone. But I know it’s even harder for you. I just want you to know that Ann and I are here for you. If you ever need anything, you can come to us.

Shego lowered her gaze, almost embarrassed by how much comfort those words brought her.

—Thanks, Dad… I guess I’m still not used to having parents again.

James smiled kindly.

—I understand. But Ann and I didn’t ask you to call us that just for show. We mean it. If you ever need help, or just someone to talk to… we’re here. Though… —he chuckled awkwardly— Ann might be better at this kind of conversation than I am.

Shego let out a genuine laugh.

—Good to know I’m not the only nervous one here.

They continued walking in silence for a while. The sun was setting beyond the horizon, casting long shadows over the quiet streets, while the streetlights flickered on, bathing everything in a soft, golden glow. It wasn’t an awkward silence—quite the opposite.

Shego was surprised by how much she liked it. It had been years since she’d felt anything close to the warmth of having someone genuinely care about her like a father.

She stole a glance at the man beside her, hands in his pockets, the air of a scientist lost in thought. And despite everything, she smiled.

Who would’ve thought? Shego—the former arch-nemesis of his daughter—walking side by side with James Possible, sharing what felt almost like a father-daughter moment.

She remembered how complicated it had been at first. When Kim revealed their relationship, Ann and James were understandably wary. Shego had never blamed them for it. Ann, though always polite, watched her with a sharp, silent vigilance, ensuring she understood that if she ever hurt her daughter, there would be consequences. James, on the other hand, never even tried to hide his skepticism.

That day, after overcoming the initial shock, Dr. Possible took her to his study. He wasted no time interrogating her about her intentions with “his Kimmie-cub,” then launched into a protective speech that included warnings about space rockets and black holes should she dare break his daughter’s heart. From then on, every time Shego visited the house, James made sure to remind her of that conversation.

But over time, everything changed. As her relationship with Kim deepened, the scrutiny began to fade. Then, one day, without Shego knowing exactly how, the Possibles learned what had happened to her family when she was a child. That was the turning point. Ann was the first to reach out, and after several deep conversations, she openly offered Shego a maternal place in her life. James, likely influenced by his wife, eventually followed suit.

At first, it was strange, but little by little, Shego lowered her defenses. She found herself trusting them in a way she had never believed possible. She shared parts of her past that she had never spoken about before. And when Kim’s accident happened…

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the lump forming in her throat.

When the accident happened, she had feared losing them. She feared they would blame her, look at her with resentment. But they didn’t. Instead, they were there for her, unwavering, as if she were truly their own daughter.

Since then, their bond had only grown stronger. And now, here she was, walking beside James Possible, about to talk to him about everything that had been tormenting her.

—Dad?

James turned his head slightly, signaling that he was listening.

—Hm?

—Have you ever been afraid of losing Mom?

James smiled wistfully.

—Oh, yes. In fact, I once did.

Shego raised an eyebrow, surprised.

—Really? What happened? If you don’t mind me asking…

—I won’t bore you with the long version,— James said with a chuckle. —Let’s just say we met young—not quite as young as you and Kim, but close. She was nineteen, and I was twenty-three. We were at the same university—she was starting her second year, and I was in my first master’s program. We became a couple after our second date because our chemistry was strong from the start. But I was immature and an idiot, and I neglected our relationship. Not on purpose—I just didn’t know how to balance my passion for my studies and work with my personal life. And because of that, I wasn’t the boyfriend I should have been. So, after two months of zero effort on my part, and with Ann being the strong woman she is, she told me that if I wasn’t going to take our relationship seriously, it wasn’t worth continuing. And me? On top of being an idiot, I was also proud… so I let her go.

Shego listened intently, fascinated by the story.

—Wow. And what did you do after that?

—At first? Nothing,— James admitted. —But when I saw her start dating someone else, I couldn’t ignore my jealousy. I let it go on for a month until I finally swallowed my pride and accepted my mistakes.

—So how did you win her back?

James let out a sigh, accompanied by a smile.

—It took time and effort. By the time I realized what I had lost, she was already with someone else. Robert was a good guy, but I couldn’t let him keep my Ann. So, patiently, I started trying to win her back. She rejected me many times over several months, even after she broke up with Robert. But I didn’t give up. I wanted to prove to her that I was willing to fight for her and that she could trust me again. Eventually, Ann agreed to give me another chance, and from that day on, I’ve worked every day to show her that she didn’t make a mistake.

Shego smiled, genuinely moved.

—I’m glad it all worked out for you two. You make a great couple… I can’t picture either of you with anyone else.

James stopped walking and looked at her with warmth.

—Thank you, Sheryl.

When Shego paused beside him, she felt the weight of his hand on her shoulder. James made sure he had her full attention before continuing.

—I know my story with Ann isn’t exactly the same as yours with Kim, but there’s something I want you to know. It’s going to take time and effort, but don’t give up. I never thought I’d say this, but after these months of getting to know you and seeing how deeply you love my daughter… I’m certain that you’re the one for her. And as much as it pains my overprotective father’s heart to admit it, I trust you. I know you’ll do what’s best for both of you.

Shego felt her throat tighten, her eyes starting to sting. She clenched and unclenched her fists, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She took a hesitant step toward him, raised her arms as if to hug him, but let them drop to her sides. Her face flushed, and feeling suddenly shy, she cleared her throat before extending a hand toward James.

—Thank you, Dad,—she murmured awkwardly, as if the words were foreign to her.

James let out a soft laugh and, instead of shaking her hand, closed the distance and wrapped her in a warm, firm hug. Shego, startled at first, let herself relax into the comfort of his embrace. This time, with more confidence, she repeated:

—Thank you, Dad.

—You’re welcome, Sheryl,— James replied before stepping back and resuming their walk. Shego was grateful he didn’t make a big deal out of the moment, because as much as she had liked it, she still wasn’t used to the warmth of such a genuine family bond.

As the Possible house came into view through the trees, Shego took a deep breath and spoke with determination.

—I promise I won’t betray your trust.

—I know you won’t.

—I know, in a way, I have to win Kim’s heart all over again. But I still don’t know how to do it. I’m not the same person she remembers, the one she fell for when she was the age she believes she is now. I’m afraid that the real me won’t be what she wants… or that she won’t even want to know me again.

James regarded her with understanding as Shego sighed.

—I’m not giving up. But if Kim decides she doesn’t want me in her life, then I’ll respect her choice. I just want her to be happy, and if that means staying away… then I will.

James offered her a gentle smile.

—That’s exactly why I know you’re the one. Thank you for loving my daughter that way, Sheryl. No matter what happens, you will always be part of this family.

Shego didn’t say anything. She just nodded, her gratitude evident in her eyes and the small smile on her lips.

By then, they had reached the doorstep of the Possible home.

—I'll let you enjoy your dinner now, —she said, preparing to walk toward the hovercraft. —Thanks for the talk, it helped me a lot.
—You're welcome, Sheryl, but no goodbyes yet—you still have to stay for dinner.
—I wouldn't want to be a bother, and I'm not sure it's a good idea.
—Nonsense, Ann will be happy to see you. Besides, when was the last time you ate?

Shego remembered that she had only eaten a light breakfast early that morning, and now that she was aware of it, she could feel the hunger in her stomach. She gave the doctor an embarrassed smile, which was enough of an answer for her to now find herself walking toward the dining room, where she could still see the rest of the family gathered, including the redhead who made her heart race.

Kim had her back to her, but Shego couldn't take her eyes off her, barely aware of the others. Ann and the twins noticed James and Shego’s presence and greeted them enthusiastically, causing Kim to turn around, and their eyes met. For Shego, the world stopped; those green eyes always had that effect on her, and although the gaze lasted only a couple of seconds, it was enough to make the butterflies in her stomach stir and her cheeks warm up.

On Kim’s part, when she noticed Shego, her body tensed instantly. The heroine attributed it to the habit of being on alert for any fight that might break out, though soon her mind reminded her that that no longer seemed to be the case. So, frowning slightly, she shifted her gaze to her father, whom she greeted with a warm smile. Ann noticed all of this, and a hint of nostalgia crossed her heart as she remembered the previous months when it was common for Kim and Shego to get lost in each other's eyes as if they were the only two people in the world. She wished they could regain that connection soon.

Shego and James sat down to eat, automatically taking their assigned seats—James at the head of the table and Shego next to Kim. An uncomfortable silence settled over the dining room for a few minutes until Ann broke it:

—How have you been, Sheryl? Feels like I haven’t seen you in a while.
—Good, Mom. Sorry I haven't stopped by to say hi, it's just that… well… I've been busy with a lot of things.
—Well, I’m glad you came today because the security system is finally ready, —Tim said.
—And we're going back to college in two days, so we need to show you everything before that, —Jim added.
—That’s great, guys, but can we go over it tomorrow? I just got back from messing with a couple of Drakken’s lairs and talking to him, and interactions with him are always exhausting.
—I can check out the security system, —Kim offered, finishing her plate at that moment, surprising everyone. In the few similar interactions they had, Kim would either stay silent or just walk away. The twins were the first to recover from the surprise and said:
—This is a project we have with Shego...
—...we’ll only discuss the details with her, —then both stuck their tongues out at their sister.
—Whatever, —Kim grumbled, standing up with the intention of heading back to her room.
—Wait, Kim, —Shego hurried to get the heroine's attention. She had seen an opportunity in Kim's interest in helping with security—an opportunity to get closer to her or at least spend more time with her, and she wasn't going to waste it.
—What? —Kim turned around with a scowl.
—You can help with the security system. This concerns you, and we should keep you informed.

Before Kim could respond, the twins interrupted with their complaints:
—Why do we have to involve her? It won’t be fun anymore.
—Mom! Tell Kim she can't get involved. Isn't she supposed to be resting?
—And who says I even want to get involved now? Go ahead, do your little project with your beloved Shego. It's always "Shego this, Shego that." You know what? I don’t care anymore. And you...

Now she was speaking directly to Shego, pointing at her accusingly.
—I hope you're happy. You already stole my memory and my best friend, and now my family too… what's next?! What's the next phase of your plan?
—There is no plan, Kim, —Shego replied, trying not to show the pain Kim’s words caused her, instead letting some compassion and patience seep into her voice.
—You always say that, and I still don’t believe you, —Kim snapped, her voice cold as ice. She turned to leave, but Shego couldn’t let her go. She rushed to reach her and, gently taking her arm, asked:
—What can I do to make you believe me?

The desperation Shego had been feeling all this time was evident in her voice. Though Kim felt a spark of curiosity at the emotion in the raven-haired woman’s voice, she quickly replaced it with irritation. She turned around, ready to shake off Shego’s grip and start a fight right then and there, but when she did and saw Shego’s eyes like she had never seen them before, she froze in place.

There was so much vulnerability in them, so much sadness—something in that electric green invited her to get lost in them.

The tension in the room was palpable. Kim’s family watched, holding their breath. Kim didn’t remove Shego’s grip, and Shego didn’t dare to move or say anything. She just held her gaze, trying to make her see her sincerity. Slowly, Shego let go, without breaking eye contact. In Kim’s eyes, she saw a flicker of confusion—a fleeting moment in which her walls seemed to crack. But like lightning, she covered it with irritation, straightening up with unwavering determination, as if doing so could drown out any doubt threatening to surface.

—You can’t do anything, —Kim finally said after a long moment of silence. —Because the thing is, I don’t trust you. —With that, she turned and left for her room without opposition.

It was logical that Kim didn’t trust her, Shego tried to console herself. No matter how much Kim had accepted her memory loss and the passage of time, the last real memory she had of her was the worst. Shego knew that, but still, hearing Kim’s words was like feeling her already shattered heart break all over again, as if the pain would never end.

Without turning around so the family wouldn’t see the tears beginning to well up in her eyes, Shego tried to gather enough composure to say goodbye.

—Thanks for the meal, Mom. I’m sorry I can’t stay longer, but I need to… I still have things to do. —She didn’t wait for a response and began walking toward the front door.

The Possible doctors said nothing but gave the twins stern looks, forcing them to react.
—Shego, wait, —the twins approached. —I think we ruined a chance for you to get closer to Kim.
—Please, forgive us, —Tim added.
—I forgive you. If that’s all, I have to go. —And with that, Shego walked out the door and rushed toward her hovercraft.