"What's wrong with Shego?" Drakken asked his mother as he returned to the mixing bowls. "What did you say to her?"
"Is something wrong?" his mother asked as she put the snickerdoodle batter on the baking tray.
"Yes, she was...very upset just now." Drakken began stirring molasses into the ginger snap batter.
"Oh... Maybe she's worried about not knowing how to cook."
Drakken frowned. "How did you know she...uh...that is..."
"Oh, she told me sweetie. And I said she would have to learn is all. Oh Drew, I'm so happy!"
Drakken continued to frown as he stirred the batter.
"Drew?"
"Oh, yes Mother. I'm...glad you were here when I proposed," he said quickly. He started to put the mixed batter out onto the baking sheet.
"You'll have a spring wedding..." his mother said as she opened the oven to pop her cookie tray in.
Drakken turned to face her. "Now...Mother, we...we've only just gotten engaged."
"You're right of course, Drew. First we need to have an engagement party!"
Drakken set his spoon down and leaned against the counter, rubbing his face with his hands. "Mother...no."
"Why not dear?"
He frowned at her. "Who would we invite? All of mine and Shego's friends are villains!"
His mother took a step back, her face falling and her lower lip trembling. Drakken sighed.
"Mother...please, don't be upset. I only meant that...we don't need to move things along so fast."
His mother's expression relaxed. "You're right of course, dear. After you finish with those ginger snaps, do you want to get started on the stuffing for dinner tonight? And I can get started on the carrots."
Drakken sighed and turned back to the cookie batter. "Yes, Mother."
Half an hour later, Drakken walked into the living room, wiping his freshly-washed hands on his apron to dry them.
"Shego—?" he began, stopping short when he caught sight of his black-clad fiancée standing carefully on both feet in front of the Christmas tree, tying a candy cane up as high as she could reach.
"You'll have to do the ones on top with the ladder," she said, glancing at him over her shoulder.
'Rrarf!' Admiral Cuddles greeted with a bark. He was sitting on the sofa. He wagged his tail and followed Drakken with his eyes as the blue man walked past toward the tree.
Drakken stepped up behind Shego and set both hands on her waist. She leaned back against him, taking the weight off of her right leg.
"That's a lot of candy canes," he said, surveying her work. There were so many candy canes amid the lights and other decorations now, he could hardly tell there was a tree underneath.
"I figured you wanted all of them. Why else would you have bought them?"
"Well...some are for eating," he said, glancing back at the dozen or so still on the coffee table.
"Eating? They're pure sugar," Shego complained, resting her hands over his.
"Well, we can put them in our hot cocoa."
"It's almost seventy-five degrees outside. You can't seriously want cocoa."
He sighed lightly as he surveyed the tree again. Later on he would get the ladder and take some of the ones she had tied below and move them to the higher branches of the twelve-foot tree. Then maybe it wouldn't look so busy.
"Hey..." she said, turning around and studying his face. "Everything okay?"
His brow rose. "I was...coming to ask you the same thing."
Her eyes darted away, and then came back to his. "I asked first. You never say 'hot cocoa'. You always say 'cocoa-moo'," she explained with a raise of her brow. "So what's up?"
"Oh, I'm just...distracted," he said, thinking of the past thirty minutes spent deflecting his mother's questions while putting together stuffing for the goose dinner they had planned. "I haven't made a traditional Christmas dinner in...some time."
Shego slid her hands up his chest until they rested on his shoulders.
"Is it going to be worth it?" she asked.
Drakken blinked. "If...if you like it."
Shego smiled. "Everything you make is good."
He blushed lightly. "Well...then it's worth it."
"Hmm," she said, kneading his neck muscles with her uninjured hand.
"But, are you all right? Mother said...you were upset because you aren't a good cook."
Shego's eyes darted away again. "That's what she told you?"
"Yes," he said, studying her face. "Was there something else?"
She glanced back at him, her face falling. "I think... I think we need to talk about something."
Drakken's own face fell at her obvious worry. He was about to ask what it was, but his mother's voice behind him interrupted them.
"Now Drew, I thought we settled this. None of that hanky-panky."
Drakken reluctantly let go of Shego's waist. She frowned as her hands left his shoulders and her arms crossed in front of her.
"What time would you two like to eat? I don't want to put the goose in too early."
"Um..." He pulled his cell phone from his pocket to check the time. "Maybe we should start it in a couple of hours."
"Oh goody! That leaves plenty of time for going caroling!"
Drakken glanced nervously at Shego, and then back at his mother. "There...aren't exactly any places to go caroling here, Mother. We're on an island."
"Oh... Well, what about ice skating?"
"Uh, hello?" Shego said, gesturing to her leg. Drakken frowned disapprovingly at her tone, and then looked back to his mother. Her expression was slowly falling.
"Taking gifts to the poor?"
"Again, island," Shego answered this time. "Except for the he— The interns, we're alone here."
Shego hopped back to the couch and flopped down. Admiral Cuddles stepped toward her excitedly, and she lifted a hand to hold him back at arm's length.
"Can't we take gifts to poor people who live on other islands?"
"Well, that would...take a lot longer than two hours, Mother," Drakken explained, crossing the room to meet her. "But...we could watch It's a Meaningful Life and...eat cookies and drink cocoa-moo?"
His mother's face brightened a bit. "The cookies will be out of the oven in a few minutes. Come and help me make the hot cocoa, Drewbie."
Drakken tossed an apologetic glance at Shego, who only scowled. When he had left the room, Shego dropped her hand and let the dog get close enough to lay its head on her lap. She pushed it off to the side and scratched its back briefly.
"I've got to talk to him..." she said to herself. She glanced at the dog. "Before his mother puts ideas into his head."
Suddenly the phone rang, and Shego lunged across the coffee table for it. She winced as she moved too fast, and the wound in her leg stung.
"Hello?" she said, answering it before Drakken's mother could get to it. No one outside the villain world had their number. Except the St. Vincent police, now.
"Hello Shego my love!"
"Junior... What do you want?"
"Shego, you wound me! I am only calling to wish you and your lover a Merry Christmas."
Shego smirked lightly. "That's nice. What do you want?"
"Ah my former mentor-in-evil, you know me too well! I am wondering what to buy for my dearest Bonnie for Christmas."
"You waited until now? Christmas Eve? I thought you were smarter than that," she said, sinking back into the couch.
"Oh I have many gifts already. Shoes, clothes, purses... But I buy her those things all of the time. I want to get something...something special. Something that symbolizes the love between she and I."
"Eugh," Shego said.
"Do you not have anything special for Drakken?"
"I do..." Shego said, looking at the four large boxes under the tree. Her tiny, brown bag-wrapped gift was hiding behind one of them. She sighed. "All right, I'll help... So how close are the two of you now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well..." Shego smirked. "I got some very risqué red lingerie yesterday..."
"Ah...I think perhaps...I shall let Bonnie make the decisions about when either of us will give that type of gift to each other."
Shego snickered and drew her legs up onto the couch, curling up in the corner. "Enough said."
"What about some expensive jewelry? That is...I know she will like it, but how to make it special... Oh!" Shego shifted and stretched out on the sofa as he processed out loud. "Perhaps a necklace engraved with the date of our meeting?"
"That's a good idea," Shego said with a yawn, already bored with the conversation.
"Of course our first meeting was marred by Kim Possible assuming the worst of me... Why does she always assume I am up to the evil? Oh! Perhaps Bonnie would like me to steal something spectacular and rare for her?"
"Stolen jewels are always appreciated," Shego said, rolling over. The dog stepped over her legs as she did so and hopped to the floor. "It lets a girl know you care when it's something no one else has or can ever have."
"Then that is what I shall do! I shall steal a rare jewel and have it put into a necklace engraved with the day of our meeting," Junior said happily. "Thank you Shego! You are always of great help when it comes to the evil plots!"
"Evil plots are what I'm best at," she said with a grin.
"Thank you again! Do not hesitate to call if you need anything," he said.
"You know I just might. Talking to you is the best thing that's happened in two days," she said, sitting up again and crossing her legs.
"Why, has something unfortunate occurred? The last time we spoke you were, as it is said, 'over the moon' about your engagement."
She started scooting to lean against the arm of the couch. "Mm, it's not that. It's that—"
Shego froze as while she was turning, she caught sight of tall, red hair peeking around the hall corner. Her heart began pounding as slowly Drakken's mother stepped into view. It was clear from the expression on her face she had been eavesdropping.
How long was she there? How much did she hear?
"Junior I...I have to go," she said.
"Whatever is wrong—?" she heard faintly as she set the receiver down.
Mrs. Lipsky took a few steps into the room.
"Who is Junior?"
"He's an old friend," Shego said. She tried to think up some excuse for her words about evil plots. Estelle would never buy that she had just been joking...
"Oh. A close friend?" she asked, stepping around the sofa and pushing the candy canes into a pile to make room on the coffee table. She didn't make eye contact.
"Yeah. I used to tutor him. I was a teacher, before I was a villain," she added, deciding on that line.
"Oh, I see dear," Estelle said, leaving the room.
Shego let out an anxious breath and slid down to lay on the sofa. Now she really needed to talk to Drakken. The last thing they needed was his mother again thinking she was still evil, now that she finally knew they were engaged.
Admiral Cuddles jumped back up onto the sofa and begin sniffing at her leg where the bandage was under her pants. She frowned at the dog.
"I can't believe you've turned out to be less annoying than her," she said.
"Drew!"
Drakken jumped as his mother was suddenly at his side, grabbing his arm. "Mother, you almost made me drop the cocoa-moo."
"Drew, does Shego have a friend named Junior?"
He shook out of his mother's fierce grip and added the cocoa cups to the tray that already held the plate of hot cookies.
"Yes. Was that who was on the phone?" Drakken asked, heading into the living room.
"Yes..." his mother said as she followed.
As he entered the room he watched Shego sit up on the couch and push Admiral Cuddles down to the floor.
"Was that Junior on the phone?"
"Yes," Shego said, meeting his eyes. He noted her cautious gaze and was tempted to look back at his mother, but didn't. Whatever it was could wait. "He called to wish us a Merry Christmas," Shego continued with a shrug.
"Oh," Drakken said, setting the tray of cookies and cocoa down on the coffee table. "That was nice of him. Mother, if you're ready we can start the movie."
"Gotta rewind the tape first," Shego said, shifting on the couch.
Drakken sat down next to her in the center of the sofa, and his mother on the other side. He picked up the remote and set the tape to rewind while his mother undid a ribbon from a candy cane and started removing the plastic.
"Shego, would you like a candy cane in your cocoa-moo?" Drakken asked.
"Mm, no thanks," Shego said. She scooted up next to him and looped her arms through one of his. "Got all the sugar I need right here."
Drakken blushed. His mother looked at them with disapproval and...something else. Drakken wasn't sure what it was, but it made him uncomfortable. However, she didn't say anything. He reached for a candy cane and began unwrapping it to add to his own cocoa.
The movie finished rewinding just as he placed his candy cane in the cup of warm, milky-brown liquid. He playfully stirred his marshmallows as he pressed play and turned up the volume. Admiral Cuddles jumped up next to his mother, and he noted her thoughtful gaze again.
"Shego dear, you've seen this movie haven't you?" his mother asked as the opening titles played.
"I've started it a couple of times," Shego said. She was looking at the screen, but Drakken noticed a smirk forming on her face. "But I've gotta be honest...it's a little long for me. I've gotten bored every time I've tried to sit through it."
Drakken's cheeks started to color as he recalled each and every time he'd tried to make her watch the movie and she had gotten 'bored.' He felt Shego smirking up at him. He stared straight ahead at the screen.
"Oh, you mean you've never seen the whole thing?"
"I'm afraid not. Honestly, I'll probably get bored again," she said, her eyes still on Drakken.
His cheeks grew redder and he swallowed slowly as he stared unblinking at the screen.
"Oh, my Drew won't let you get bored."
Shego lightly set her hand on his knee and trailed her fingertips up his thigh. "You won't, will you?" she murmured.
Drakken shot up off the couch and fairly leapt over the coffee table.
"Drew? What are you doing?"
"I, ah...I-I need more cocoa-moo," he said, grabbing his cup and rushing out of the room.
"But we just sat down?" Mrs. Lipsky called after him in confusion.
Shego's shoulders shook with silent laughter as she picked up the remote that had been knocked down during his antics.
"What on earth has him so jumpy?"
"I have no idea," Shego said, turning to hide her grin. "Hey, Dr. D.? Bring me some eggnog!" she called.
"No!" came the strong reply from the kitchen.
"'No'?" Mrs. Lipsky asked.
"I don't think he likes it when I drink alcohol," Shego explained, her amusement calming down.
Mrs. Lipsky looked thoughtful and bit concerned.
"Well, no. You'll have to change your diet significantly when you have children."
Shego's face fell, and she bit her cheek to keep from frowning.
"Mama Lipsky... We...just got engaged today," she said, reminding her of the proposal less than an hour prior. "We haven't had a chance to talk about kids yet."
"Oh, but dearie..."
Shego felt suddenly alert as Estelle turned calculating eyes on her.
"If you're having a sexual relationship with my son, you must have talked about it."
Shego's eyes widened and her heart pounded all the way up to her throat. Her lips parted slightly as she mentally replayed the line in her head. Had Drakken's mother really just said...?
Shego swallowed the lump in her throat and shook her head slowly. "Mama Lipsky... We...we haven't," she squeaked out, recalling Drakken's insistence that his mother not know about that aspect of their relationship. "Drakken...Drew...wants to wait until we're married. We have talked about that."
Mrs. Lipsky's brow rose slightly, but the hard look in her eyes remained. Shego bit her cheek again. What had sparked the woman's sudden judgment? Had she read into the hand on Drakken's thigh and her double-talk? Was it the tank top she wore without a bra earlier and Drakken's lack of reaction to it?
"Mother, Shego, I'm sorry..."
Both women turned at the sound of Drakken's voice. Drakken carried his cocoa mug in one hand and a glass of eggnog in the other.
"I'm just...a bit overwhelmed by the holiday," he said to excuse his sudden departure a minute ago as he reclaimed his seat between them. He didn't look at either of them, and Shego quickly pulled her face together as she took the glass of eggnog he offered. She took a drink...and found it didn't taste right. She set it on the tray and leaned back into the sofa with a sigh, this time not snuggling up to Drakken.
"Now...pay attention Shego, this is Mother's favorite Christmas movie."
His tone had lightened, and Shego knew he only meant to appease the older woman. She leaned her head on his shoulder and resolved to just watch the movie. She wouldn't be able to talk to Drakken about what his mother had just said until later. Not without further arousing the woman's suspicion, anyway, since they never seemed to be able to catch a moment away from her.
And there was still the issue of...children.
Shego genuinely had never considered it since she and Drakken had gotten together. And on the few occasions the thought had occurred to her throughout her adult life, she had easily dismissed the idea as something for other women and not for her. That was still her go-to resolution, and she was very comfortable with it.
But what if...he really wanted children?
She realized suddenly... He had never mentioned it. In the almost six months they had been together, he had never mentioned it either as a suggestion or a concern. Was he just assuming she was protected...? Because he never took any protective measures of his own that she knew of.
Shego felt sick. The subject was...a discussion that had to happen. And soon, she realized, before his mother started talking to him about it too.
Shego's stomach turned again as she realized—what if his mother already had? What if she'd been chatting about it with him, as she had with her, and he just hadn't mentioned it yet? It was possible...
She pinched her eyes shut and physically shook her head to get rid of the thought. Drakken looked down at her wonderingly.
"I don't feel well," she said softly.
He set his arm around her in sympathy, and she leaned in closer to him. There was no point in worrying about it now. Not until she could talk to him about it. She sighed through her nose and focused on the black-and-white movie on the TV screen.