Shego stopped mid-lunge and stared. Did Kimmie really just blurt out what she thought she had said? Kim's lushly verdant eyes were on the floor of the undersea lair, her fingers twisting in on each other like Medusa's hair.

"Did you just… ask me out?" Shego's raised eyebrows were almost touching her hairline, her heart thumping painfully fast in the confines of her chest, her head reeling with shock and...

What was that feeling? That other little feeling tucked behind the amazement? Oh. Hope.

She saw Kim inhale deeply before wrenching her hands apart, throwing her shoulders back and looking – almost glaring – straight at her. "Yes. Yes I did. Now could you hurry up and decline before I lose what's left of my nerve and run out of here crying?"

Shego was frowning now. She was frowning and her brow was furrowed. Kim took that as a bad sign and swivelled quickly around, preparing to sprint her way out of there. Ignoring the aching, crumbling feeling centred somewhere in her chest, the pounding in her ears. She could feel the tears coming, too, too strong to suppress, and she just had to get out of there, get out of there before you make any bigger a fool out of yourself, girl, get out of there befo–

"Wait!" Shego had reached out and seized Kim's wrist, as swiftly as a snake would lunge at its prey. Kim stared at the hand, unwilling to meet Shego's eyes. "What is it? What more do you want?" Her voice cracked. Its sharp bitterness was readily apparent.

"You never waited for my answer, pumpkin," Shego stated incredulously. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were trying to keep from beaming. Her eyes were practically shining. But Kim missed all of that through the sudden blurriness her tear ducts had induced, and all the blinking she was doing to rid herself of it.

Shego's hand slid down Kim's wrist and grasped hers while she bridged the small gap between them with a large stride. Kim gave a start as she felt Shego's other hand rest carefully on her waist, and again at the warm breath directed right beside her ear…

"Yes."