A/N: Okay first off thank you ALL SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS!

I work very hard on writing so any and all are very much appreciated so thank you so much!


Concerns


Shego wasn't exactly sure when she became semiconscious of the sound of birds outside, the warmth surrounding her on the couch, and the sound of soft breathing above where her head was nestled. She had a moment of pure panic that she needed to move before Drakken woke up...until the night before came flooding back to her.

He'd kissed her.

She had yet to open her eyes, slightly worried that she was having some strange dream...her mind quickly descending into madness by association and due to her own unrequited issues. It was short lived however, which meant she wasn't delusional and hadn't just fallen asleep watching movies to find an accidental snuggle. As she slowed down her thoughts and became more sure of herself she was suddenly grateful that the high of the previous night had been ended by Drakken's revelation of his mutation.

She felt almost embarrassed about how she had been acting and... Her brow rose as she thought about it. His reaction to her kissing down his neck... He'd practically thrown her off of him and started ranting about Flower... Had that been the only reason? Was he backpedaling when he'd said he shouldn't have kissed her and... Had Drakken gone and brushed his teeth before coming back to watch the movie? She snorted and heard him shift. With his movements, something else shifted around them. The feeling of movement along her back, legs, and hair dismissed any semblance of sleep or content.

Her eyes shot open and she looked around them. The vines of the Mandevillas were woven around them, along the couch and ground, all coming from the window nearest the ocean view. They had spun around her legs and what she had thought was Drakken's hand in her hair had in fact been a flower nestling between the locks. Shego let out a scream of shock as she shoved away from Drakken. The flowers quickly retreated from the room at her yell, knocking over the lamp and a few art decorations as they sped out the window.

"Shego—"

"What was that?" she growled as a shiver ran through her, thinking about how long the vines may have been wrapped around them.

"They do that sometimes," Drakken said calmly. Shego looked at his casual expression. "It's actually rather fascinating. I don't know if it's me or Flower that—"

"Fascinating!? Do you control that?" asked Shego. She felt her heart racing, and Drakken's expression began to shift.

"Well...no I don't think so..."

"So your flowers...that were created to take over the world...casually sneak in at night...for fun." Shego felt panic run through her as she got off the couch and hastened to shut the window. "That's creepy...and more than a little concerning."

Drakken's expression kept shifting as he sat up on the couch. Shego felt like she should calm down but when she looked out the window she saw the flowers dart out of her sight and she shuddered. Drakken controlling them or ordering them to do things was one thing...but the sentient behavior made her body tense. Drakken's casual dismissal of it was...very Drakken. She took a hard swallow to calm herself enough to focus on the problem. It was clear Drakken's statement from the night before was true... He had completely ignored his current flower issue in all the excitement.

"I'm going to make breakfast," she spoke slowly.

She nodded mostly to herself as she left the living area if only to clear her mind from being pulled from her comforting snuggle by wrapping vine organisms. She felt the disturbed feeling fade to anger as she opened cabinets aggressively. It was not exactly how she'd hoped the morning would go... For one it didn't involve her declaring to make breakfast to avoid looking at flowers. She looked at her random gathering of items and glared.

"What am I even making?" she scoffed at the various boxes and ingredients.

She could feel some of the shock finally fading away as she focused on the food items instead. She still felt discomfort, but for the time being she would take a step back.

"Drakken...any preference? Because unless you want pancakes...you should probably make something instead," she called into the living room. No response came. "Drakken?"

She walked through the archway to see an empty living room, and felt a slight hum beneath her feet as the power to the lab was turned on, making her aware of where he'd gone. She crossed her arms and looked back to the kitchen and then out the window as the plants had seemingly resumed their normal positions.

"Pancakes it is..."


Drakken wasn't sure what was actually driving him as he watched his blood cycle and cure in the device. While he had intended more than once to see the exact extent of his mutation...the intensity of Shego's lips was not what was on his mind...no. It was the fact of how easily he had accepted the plants and their actions. He hadn't once questioned them slipping into his room at night or if they responded to Flower or himself... Although he was fairly certain Flower acted on his subconscious versus its own cognition...he hoped. His hand slid under his collar down his back, wondering if there was something more concerning brewing within him.

He moved aside the plate of partially eaten pancakes from...that morning? Yesterday? He looked up at the small openings in the lab wall that were windows. It was light out, but he knew he'd been down there more than a day at least because he remembered switching on more lights at the darkening of the sky. He leaned on his hand to look at the unfinished blueprints for one of the devices he was supposed to be tinkering with... The samples would take hours to process yet, and running comparisons even longer. His lab was not exactly set up for those sorts of medical-based tests... It was set up for tinkering and power-based items.

He wheeled his chair over to his regular desk, the sound of the wheels breaking the silence of the lab other than the rumbling hum of the samples' curation process. A sudden gasp caught his attention to the far right of his lab. He looked to see Shego in her designated new chair, clearly stirring from sleep. Drakken was equally startled by her presence such that he failed to stop his chair and it toppled over.

"Ow," he groaned as he got off the ground.

"What did I tell you about wheeling around?" he heard the groggy snort from Shego.

Drakken dusted himself off and gave her a confused look.

"How long have you been down here?" He looked at the now-dismantled chair. "Do you know where the spare is?"

"Ohm...since I asked if you wanted dinner, and you said...and I quote, 'Give me ten minutes.' Clearly I fell asleep in the hour that spanned ten minutes," she looked at the windows, "yesterday. The spare chair? The one you decided you didn't need?"

"Oh...right," Drakken mumbled as he looked at the chair.

"It's in the storage room," yawned Shego. "I knew you'd break that one."

Drakken glared at her halfheartedly as she had clearly been right. He didn't know why he bothered getting ones with wheels...they never lasted him long despite his best efforts. Or rather, his lack of efforts in not using them to propel from place to place around the lab.

"See, now you understand why I have storage rooms," muttered Drakken. He looked at the slow creeping light coming through the windows. "What day is it?"

"Monday," sighed Shego as she held up the partially eaten pancakes. "These look like rubber."

"Tasted like it," muttered Drakken. It took the sound of the pancake hitting the plate to realize his error. "But delicious rubber."

Drakken felt the focus on his work dissipate as he looked at Shego. Her expression was sour and he began looking for a way to backpedal. Normally he wouldn't and he knew this...but the previous night made him wonder if he should be concerned about his words. He began waging an internal battle of what would be socially correct to do and why he should consider deviating from their normal behavior. His internal battle was ended as Shego scoffed and set the pancakes ablaze.

"Whatever, not even like I ate them either," she grumbled before wandering over to where the samples spun. "So you weren't exactly chatty last night...what are you testing?"

"My saliva and tissue samples in that one," stated Drakken. "Checking for anything that could possibly cause outside mutations or contamination. It's most important. I can run blood samples before we leave as they will take much longer to set for comparisons."

He watched Shego nod but the look in her eyes signaled she may have fazed his words out... Nothing new he noted...but it made him feel on edge more than it normally would. He narrowed his eyes at his own thoughts. Shego seemed unperturbed and as he looked at her carefree motions...he wondered suddenly if he'd imagined pulling her into a kiss, or her arms around him on the couch.

Shego's voice cut into his pondering as if he was having exhausted hallucinations.

"When we leave?" Her brows narrowed as her arms crossed. "We are not leaving our lair because your flowers are invasive. The point of these tests is to monitor your mutation and figure out what controls them, right? Don't we have a security feature that would keep them out in the meantime?"

Drakken remembered that he was given a security manual when they got the lair and wondered where he put it for a brief moment before he focused back on Shego still talking.

He cut her off.

"No. I meant for the conference," said Drakken, "in Iceland."

Shego looked suddenly relieved but she seemed more tense than before.

"Right. Iceland," she nodded. "How long is this conference for?"

Drakken rifled through his desk for notes he'd made as he tried to recall the full details.

"Two days. They invited me on a tour of their energy resource facility and hot springs...then in the evening is the actual conference." Drakken began rambling about the features of the facilities he wanted to see.

He was halfway through his rant about natural energy heating being a great application for future work when he realized...Shego had zoned him out again as she sat on the edge of his desk rifling through notes. She was looking towards the samples again. He bit his lip and wondered just how worried she actually was. Given what he knew of Shego's genetics, which was very little, he was certain that the plants might only cause her mild illness at most, but nothing further. Still a concern.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. Shego zoned back in.

"Huh? Fine. Why?" she raised a brow. "Should I be worried?"

"No... I...ohm... Well I don't think my mutation will affect you more than mild illness if anything... The test is just a formality... To be very certain, I would need a sample from you," Drakken muttered. Shego wasn't looking at him. "But I don't need it to test the mutation and spors—"

"I'm fine," she cut him off. "I feel no different than I did before we kissed."

Drakken saw a tint sweep her face and he fought the tug at his lips...but she held no smile on hers so the corners fell as he began to wonder if there was more meaning to her words than simple confirmation that she wasn't ill.

"Good...that's telling... I'll run a few more—"

"No," Shego cut him off. "You go get some sleep. I'm not listening to you whine all the way to Iceland and ruining the trip."

"Shego, I have to switch out those vials in two hours—"

"Uh...doy. I'm here," she indicated to herself. "Now go."

"But—" Drakken's yawn did nothing to win the argument as he was pushed towards the stairs.


Drakken felt far more rested despite the flowers' arguments as he locked them out of his room before sleeping...something he'd never done and they had seemed confused...if flowers could be confused. It had only made it very clear they were something he should have thought about much sooner. Before leaving the lair he'd turned on the security features if only to record how they acted without him present... Debating the results that had yet to come as he and Shego flew was not exactly lightening the mood.

He glanced at Shego reading a magazine in her normal hover car seat. He wanted to rant about his thoughts and theories on his current self-experiment...but he wasn't sure he should.

Why?

Drakken grumbled to himself at this thought.

"What was that?" Shego glanced over her magazine. "If this is about the burger place again...you're the one who overslept and has to make it there to see some lab."

Drakken rolled his eyes.

"Someone could have woken me up," he glared. Shego put her magazine down.

"No one told me that along with your schedules and forgotten appointments you neglect to tell me about...I am now your personal alarm clock," scoffed Shego. She flipped her magazine page. "Ask your garden to wake you."

Drakken took the moment.

"Perhaps after my experiments...I will," he said confidentially. "I set up the surveillance to observe them while we are away. Without distractions or my presence it will be interesting to see if they are immobile or active."

Shego closed her magazine.

"What does it mean if they aren't active?" she questioned. Drakken grinned.

"It means they may only react to Flower or I being in close proximity...thus they are harmless and a step in the direction of being able to focus control." Drakken felt slightly smug until Shego continued.

"And if they are active without you?" she raised a brow. Drakken's expression faded to one of unease.

"Then it becomes a bit more concerning," he muttered. He watched as Shego looked away.

"Have you run tests on just your samples or samples from Flower too?" asked Shego. Drakken's eyes widened.

"I hadn't thought about testing Flower separately," he admitted. "It hadn't occurred; it might have a different genetic pattern all together...simply parasitic to my own...or if it's an organic-based attachment. I've thought about the options...just not the methods of testing. I was simply focused on mutation growths—"

"Right. Okay," Shego cut in. "So you're testing to see how the mutation has affected you...and if the flowers are reacting to you or on their own."

Drakken glared.

"I just said that—"

"Yes, but you could have just...said that...and not the fifty other words jumbled in there," she sighed. Drakken's expression soured further. "Sorry..." she said, "I'm just hungry."

"We could have gone through the drive thru," he muttered. Shego nodded, and he continued. "We could still go through a drive thru."

"Fine," sighed Shego.

Drakken grinned as he dropped the hover car down towards a street below in search of something quick to eat.


Walking around the facility of Iceland's leading climate risk combatting and energy resources facility led Drakken to consider those topics he had never really thought about. He'd read about the science behind the place but it had never really been of any use in his villainous endeavors...minus the energy resources. It would have saved them a bundle on electric bills, especially with all his lasers and security defenses.

"The natural heat from the springs below the surface allows us to harness power that can give electricity for miles with no cost or harmful repercussions," spoke the thickly accented scientist as she and her companions gestured out the massive windows.

"So is the plan to utilize and harness powers for more distribution?" asked Drakken as he looked at the large pistons around them. "Or bragging rights."

"The hope is to lead by example of clean living... Since the alien incident, the levels of natural gasses have increased to an alarming rate," said the scientist. Drakken squinted in thought... Dr. Sandradottir if he remembered correctly.

Drakken's brow rose at her statement. He'd not given much thought to any effects the Lorwardian ship might have caused to the atmosphere.

"We also hope that there is a way to combat it using our work but we have yet to find a way of compacting for temporary purposes...though one of our new springs may prove of use in this. It appeared after some sort of forced global shift," spoke her companion.

"Who tries to shift continents?" scoffed a man. Drakken bit his lip but heard Shego snort behind him.

"Ah yes...why?" asked Shego. Drakken shot her a slight glare.

"Well it worked in our favor," continued Dr. Sandradottir. "It allowed access to a core that emits power for short bursts in transport...but not harnessing it long term."

"Is that why Dr. Drakken was invited to this conference?" asked Shego. Drakken had already caught on but Shego continued. "Brainstorming an idea, or for a handout?"

"Oh no... We invited you here for assistance yes...but your ecological way of combatting a threat is something we strive to pursue as well," said Dr. Sandradottir. Drakken raised his brow. "The idea of defense in a way un-harmful to the world is exhilarating. We hope to find a way to do so as well... We hope you could shed light on your inspiration at the conference."

"Ah yes...the conference." Drakken felt suddenly nervous. "Where you asked me to speak...yes."

Drakken nodded as the team rambled and continued walking off. He lagged behind with Shego before he had enough distance to turn to her. She stopped in her tracks as she almost walked into him.

"Shego, what am I supposed to say?" he whispered. "Oh actually I was trying to take over Earth...happy accident."

"If you smile and stand by a scenic background that's a good start," smirked Shego. Drakken was unamused until she sighed and continued. "Oh relax. You'll wing it. Look at your speech at the UN... Only a few stumbles and you got massive applause. You'll do fine... Hamming it up under pressure seemed to be your thing."

Drakken was about to argue when her words wheedled into his head.

"That's perfect... Just toss out the old 'under pressure' bit and play it off... Should work perfectly." He resumed walking.

"If all else fails, tell them you watched too much Tiny Shop of Terrors and you liked the killer plant," smirked Shego.

Drakken looked out the large windows as they caught up with the scientists waiting at the end of the hall for him. It was a breathtaking view of lush mountains and waterways. It was easy to see why Shego had wanted this country if he had conquered the world... He for the power source...she for beauty he was sure... It was known for healing hot springs and Shego did like vacations.

He felt his hand brush hers and suddenly the memory of her attempting to hold his hand when he was trying to get parts for his Sound Amplification Device came swirling back to him. He shook his head at how obvious it seemed now...thinking that she was actually fixing his gloves and trying to keep him from wandering off... Okay the last one was actually very plausible. He'd thought about doing it three times on the present tour alone. He glanced at her hand and glanced around them. His fingers had just touched hers when they were yanked away as she began fiddling with her gloves. Drakken chose to move on from the possible moment as they entered yet another giant room for him to get lost in.


Three times. Drakken cringed as he sipped the bitter drink at dinner and looked at Shego's hand. Three times throughout the day Shego had avoided his hand and his compliments...which he had not actively been attempting... Perhaps after the second one he had been, but he wasn't admitting that to himself. He'd been happily distracted all day at the facility and even at the conference before his speech...but the evening after thus far had made him more conscious of her avoidance.

Even as he ranted about all he had seen and its application to works he could imagine...he still glanced at her hand. He was trying to determine if she had accidentally avoided his hand or even his arm at one point...or if she was actively avoiding all physical contact. He swallowed the burning liquid that he had ordered by mistake, and took a more direct chance.

His hand slid over hers sitting on the table as he ranted about the core they were seeing tomorrow. Her hand retreated as if he'd burned her. He retracted his own and grabbed an unneeded napkin near where her hand had been. He looked at her face which was turned to look out the window... She was either lost in thought or bored...and he stopped rambling.

He waited.

Shego's brow furrowed as she turned to look at him.

"Why did you stop talking?" she asked. "You were just telling me for the hundredth time about the energy efficiency...thing."

"Clearly I'm boring you," he grumbled. Shego snorted.

"Nearly four years later you're actually aware of it," she laughed. "Geesh, imagine what you'll pick up on in another four."

Drakken glared.

"Perhaps getting you to bite your lip," he retorted. Shego smirked. "What?"

Shego snorted and shook her head.

"Nothing," she sighed. "Just...wondering the same."

Drakken felt like he missed something but as he glanced at her hand he decided it was best to finish his food and let it go for the time being.


A moonlit walk along the shore to their hotel seemed like yet another perfect time to reach for Shego's hand... However Drakken may have gotten distracted by the warmth of the sand and ranted far too much about it because before he knew it, they were walking down the hall of the hotel. He kept telling himself it was all coincidence that she must not have been aware of his gestures all day... He tried again as her fingers nearly touched his.

Her hand was gone before his fingers could even curve. She wasn't looking at him but he felt his heart sink at the thought she'd recoiled from his touch. He folded his arms behind his back as they walked along the hallway of the hotel in silence. He said nothing as he turned to his door quickly. He heard Shego say something but he'd already closed the door. He let his head hit the door before pushing away from it to get ready for sleep he knew wouldn't come.

His mind replayed her reactions from the lab and her avoidance of his hand so many times that day. His shoulders slumped as he realized whatever moment they had shared had officially passed... Whatever she thought she'd felt since November as she claimed...wasn't there. He rubbed at the back of his neck as he kicked off his boots.

Selfishly he wished he hadn't stopped them the night before...hadn't panicked at Flower's appearance and only forced it away... He hated those thoughts but they were there nonetheless. He knew the regret would have been pure destruction...but he was allowed selfish thoughts... Especially as he resolved to wonder what damage might have been done by the action of kissing her at all.

Would she continue to act as if nothing changed...? Or would she...like he'd been afraid of...would she just not return back to the lair with him.

"Drakken?" came Shego's annoyed voice from the door before a swift knock.

He took a deep breath and schooled his face as he went back to the door.

"Yes?" he cleared his throat as he opened the door and stepped out. She looked angry. "What?"

"Did you seriously say 'what'?" She crossed her arms. "Gee, I don't know. How about spending the entire day rambling about all the fun new toys you got to see and then just walking away from me?"

Drakken felt confusion wash over him. His expression only seemed to annoy Shego further.

"Are you over it or something because I know you have the attention span of a goldfish, but at least say something about it," snarled Shego. "If you actually regret the other night...fine...but at least say it and don't use the plants as an excuse."

Shego scoffed and tossed her hands aggressively in the air as she spun around towards her room.

"I do not have the attention span of a goldfish," snapped Drakken. It shouldn't have been the focus of her speech but it was.

Shego turned around and looked at him in exasperation.

"So the rest is true or are you just trying to get under my skin?" She stomped back over with such rage Drakken backed into the door frame.

"N-no." Drakken mentally cursed at his stammer. He narrowed his eyes. "You're the one avoiding my hand and acting like nothing's changed."

Shego growled.

"That's because if I did do something you'd freak out like you did every other time I've showed you affection." Her fists were clenched. "And you have not tried holding my hand."

Drakken was mentally trying to calculate other times she had shown him affection and he'd missed it... He was suddenly aware of the mood-u-lator antics and the confirmation she had been flirting with him since November... And he'd thought she'd been pestering him on purpose. He wanted to explain to Shego that those responses had been mostly out of confusion and annoyance...but he began wondering how he would have reacted to any of those antics even now. Shego was looking at her hand with a softening expression before they both made eye contact.

"What if..." Drakken began slowly. "Never-mind."

"What?" sighed Shego. He watched her shoulders slump and the anger fade to annoyance.

"We could clarify our actions," suggested Drakken. Shego's expression became deadpan.

"You want me to announce I am flirting?" She looked pained at her own words.

"That would be rather—" Drakken began but was cut off by lips on his. "Shego!"

He attempted to step back.

"Oh...sorry," she rolled her eyes and snorted, "I'm going to kiss you now."

She moved towards him again.

"Shego, I don't know what the lab results are yet?" he hastily responded. Shego raised a brow.

"You said I'd get mildly sick at the most." She raised a brow. He gave a slight shrug with his nod. "Good thing I have a doctor around."

"Shego," he whined and tried to avoid her lips. "What if I'm wrong?"

Shego took a step back but he saw the deviousness in her eyes before she responded.

"Well then we can both be houseplants," she teased. Drakken rolled his eyes. "All right...fine... If you're too much of a nerd to enjoy a make-out session...I won't force you."

She began taking slow steps back. Drakken rolled his eyes.

"Nice try on the reverse psychology," grumbled Drakken as he began closing the door. "Good night, Shego."

"Good night...Dorkken," snorted Shego as she went into her own room.

Drakken closed the door and then opened it again.

"Shego?" her door pulled open. "Is this...the argument...is it over?"

Shego's coy smirk he'd previously missed faded and she rolled her eyes and closed the door.

"That wasn't an answer," grumbled Drakken.

"No," came Shego's muffled voice through the door.

"See...was that so hard to answer," smiled Drakken as he closed the door. His smile fell. "Oh."


Shego kicked off her shoes and flopped on the expensive bed with a large sigh. She focused on the golden painted ceiling before she let her thoughts consume her. She shouldn't have started an argument... She had...in truth...been avoiding Drakken most of the past few days. At the lair, he'd been focused on his work and she'd not really had a chance to process his affections yet. When he'd explained his tests her mind had focused on the flowers wrapping around her...and the calmness in how he thought it normal.

She'd been relieved when they'd left that morning... It was a relief, thinking about the creepy foliage being away from them. But her mind had been plagued with concerns of what they may return to the next day...and the fear that the plants were not under Drakken's control... Shego wondered how long Drakken would not have tested things if not for the other night... What if the mutation was growing and did take over without him knowing? While she had joked about the potted plant...there was a certain concern for it.

She bit her lip.

It may have been the driving force for her advancing the argument the moment prior. She'd unintentionally avoided his hand apparently...and it was clear he was not using the plants as an excuse to avoid her like she had started wondering as the day progressed.

Her musings ceased as there was a gentle knock at the door. She raised a brow and slid out of bed to open it.

"Yes?" sighed Shego as she opened the door to see Drakken. "Uhg, fine...the argument is over, you can go to bed—"

Drakken mirrored his actions of the other night as his hands rested on either side of her face and he pulled her into a simple kiss. Shego wanted to roll her eyes and respond with something snarky but she held it back as her arms wrapped around his waist. His hands drifted to slide through her hair and tangle at her scalp. She was just about to deepen the kiss when he pulled away. The smug look on his face made her roll her eyes and the snarky comment came flying back.

"You didn't announce that," she stated. His smug look fell. "Now I got your cooties with no warning."

Drakken's hands slid away from her as he headed back to his room, grumbling. Shego snorted as he mimicked her cootie comment as he opened his door. Shego waited until his door closed before doing the same. Her amused smile faded as the worry about Drakken's mutation and his flower came spiraling back as she touched her lips. She knew Drakken would run a few blood tests when they got back to the lair...but despite his insistence on people calling him doctor...a medical doctor he was not.

Shego flopped into bed. Weighing the odds as she grabbed her phone and nearly regretted it as a sleepy whiny voice picked up to the ringing.

Shego ignored the rambling about the hour as she settled into the choice she'd made.

"Hey, Mego."


Let's see how this... Go's...