New day, new chapter. The next to last chapter, actually. Just one more to go after this.
As always, thanks for the reviews and the faves.
This ones a bit short. New friends return (I'm sure many will be disappointed), but I wanted to focus on something happy this chapter and let people enjoy it before the end.
Chapter 28
It was five days till Christmas when the reason for Sensei's lack of concern became clear. Shego was in one of the classrooms, going over her English lesson with the third round of students. Everyone's head snapped up as a thunderous roar shook the mountain.
"GODS DAMN IT LUKE!"
She called an end to the lesson and made her way towards the yell, Ron rushing up to join her. They arrived at the entrance of the school to found Blackwolf surrounded by a dozen ninjas, everyone armed to the teeth and ready to fight. Astrid was standing behind him, wearing giant fur coat, hammer slung over her shoulders, her wrists hanging from the haft. To one side was Heather, wearing a black leather trench coat and black leather boots that disappeared under it. To the other side was a slender blonde man with long hair worn in a ponytail and rectangular glasses, who looked anything but pleased.
"Everyone stand down," Yori called loudly, appearing behind the defending ninjas, "These people are expected." The ninjas silently lowered their weapons and stepped back. Heather spotted Shego and Ron and raced towards them with a joyful squeal and tackled them into a hug.
"Shego! Ron! You're alright!" She said happily, stepping back to look at them. "We were worried about you!"
Luke put his blade away. "I was not," He said.
The goth girl blew him a raspberry before turning back. "Don't listen to him," she said happily.
Astrid came over and shook their hands in greeting. She looked Shego up and down. "I would have thought you put a pup in her already, Stoppable," the valkyrian woman said, "perhaps the food here is not virile enough." Ron colored and mumbled a protest, but Shego kissed his cheek as the woman laughed. She indicated the slender man who was studying the school grounds. "This is my boyfriend, Sven." The man gave an absent wave, not looking away from his study. Astrid gave a huff. "I'm sorry he is so rude. I promised him a relaxing vacation in Japan and we got roped into this."
"This?" Ron asked. Shego looked at the other woman curiously.
"We're going to try and negotiate a peace treaty with GJ," Heather said, blowing on her gloved hands, "Not that Luke wants too, but even he has other matters he needs to focus on besides slaking his thirst. Given the absolute state of things, the headmaster reached out to us and GJ to see if something could be worked out. We're also gonna try and get your lives back, if we can, or at least work out something to help you guys."
Shego stared in shock, trying to crush the spark of hope that had suddenly lit in her chest. "Y-you mean we might get to go home?" Ron asked softly.
"Or at least have a place to build a new home in safety," Astrid said. "We're not promising anything, but we will if we can."
"When is this supposed to happen?" Shego asked.
"Christmas," Astrid said, "I believe your Sensei was inspired by various times of peace brought about by the holiday."
Shego thought that getting their lives back would make an amazing Christmas gift for her and Ron.
Rooms were quickly set up for the new quartet. Heather tried to insist that she could share a room with Luke, but Astrid put a stop to that. Shego studied Luke as it was happening, and despite his mask, thought she detected both relief, but also a deep sorrow and loneliness. Perhaps he did want the goth girl, but his past kept him from seeking it.
The dining room, which was usually fairly quiet with reserved conversation, found itself practically scandalized by the raucous nature of their new guests, especially Astrid once she had gotten her hands on sake, though Heather wasn't terribly far behind once Astrid had enough to weaken her ability to guard the drink from the young woman. Luke was his usual reserved self.
Sven was a new quality, and Shego studied him carefully. He wasn't loud or boisterous like Astrid, nor reserved and contained like Luke. After a bit she put it together. He was calculating, analyzing literally anything and everything. He also reminded her of some villains she'd met. Not the flashy kind like Draken or Killian, but like the ones from old movies, Moriarty or Fu Manchu. Criminal masterminds who became super villains in their own right. Part of her wondered what Astrid was doing with such a man, but there was no denying the love in her eyes for him, or in deep care in his subtle gestures with her.
She found herself and Ron laughing along with the boisterous women and their antics. Luke, it turned out, was absolutely horrible with chopsticks and no amount of attempts to show him were working. Heather's attempts to feed him with her perfect mastery of the things led to much laughing on Astrid's part as he first avoided, and then as his efforts proved ever futile, deigned to let her do it occasionally while he battled on.
Eventually the meal ended and Sensei drew their attention to himself. "It is my honor to proved hospitality to the the Jarls of the Valknut and their guests." He said solemnly, "It is my hope that in the coming days we can bring about the peace they desire, and restore the lives of our dear friends the Stoppables. Please, make yourselves at home and rest easy under our protection."
Heather stepped out in front of everyone and bowed to Sensei. "Honored Master, we are grateful to you for your hospitality. We shall seek to act as proper guests and aid in the defense of your home while we are within its shelter. May the Aesir and Vanir bless your halls and your people for your kindness and honor." She said formally, before retreating back to her seat.
"A toast to our hosts!" Astrid said, raising her sake. Everyone did the same with shouts of "Skol!" and "Kampai!" before draining their cups.
The hall emptied sporadically after that, and when it was about half empty Shego led Ron away. Luke followed them out of the hall, and in the dark on the mountain they turned to him. "Something up, Luke?" Shego asked.
The man sighed. "Time grows short," he said, "and I do not know if we shall meet again after the days to come. So I wanted to offer a gift, if you needed it."
Shego felt a chill, there was a finality to his words and she didn't know if he meant it for them or himself. She found that as much as she didn't want anything to happen to Ron or herself, she didn't want more tragedy to befall the man who had helped them. "What gift?" she asked casually.
"If you are not yet married," Luke said, "And you wished to be, I could perform the rites."
She and Ron looked at him stunned, then at each other. She hand went up to her collar, which was technically her engagement ring. They'd promised to marry each other, but it had almost fallen out of their minds with the way their lives were. Ron saw the gesture.
"Sheila," He said softly, "I...if you still want me, I would be honored to make you my wife."
She kissed him deeply, his face cupped in her hands. "Stupid Master," she said softly, "I will want you for the rest of my life. Please make me yours."
Ron turned to the other man. "I...we would be grateful," he said, and Shego pressed herself against her master as she nodded in agreement.
"I will speak to the Master of this place and see if it can be done then." Luke said, before fading back into the darkness.
They stood there for a long moment, then hurried back to their home to curl under the blankets and celebrate.
Two days later, the entire school was gathered at the school's shrine. Luke stood before, dressed in black silk pants, a traditional norse shirt of black silk with golden embroidery of knot-works and serpents, his saber strapped to his hip. Sensei and Yori stood to each side of and behind him, dressed in their finest clothes. Ron and Shego stood knelt before him in traditional Japanese wedding kimonos. On Ron's side was Sven wearing an elegant black suit, while on Shego's stood Astrid in an elegant sky blue dress, while Heather wore an equally elegant black one. The student's were also in their finest.
"We are gathered here today," Luke said solemnly, "Before Gods and Men, to witness the binding of two souls in an oath of most sacred trust, honor, and love, that of holy matrimony." He looked over the crowd. "In her time of greatest need, Sheila came to Ron and he offered her home and safety. When enemies came to their hall, they fought together for each other. When they were forced to flee, they remained side by side, true to each other. Through this their love has grown, and now they seek to be forever bound to one another."
"If there are any who would speak against them or their union, say it now before all, or keep your peace er evermore and speak no ill against their love and oath." He looked around the crowd, but none spoke and he nodded. "Very well."
He picked up two arm rings, currently looped through each other and presented them to Ron and Shego, who gripped them. "May these rings, which stand as a physical embodiment of your honor, hold your oaths to be true. Ron Stoppable, do you take this woman to be your wife, in love and honor, in health or sickness, through plenty and fallow, for as long as you live?"
"I swear it," Ron said, his eyes full of love and his voice filled with happiness, "Before all present, before God, and before her."
"Sheila," Luke said, "Do you take this man as your husband, in love and honor, in health and sickness, through plenty and fallow, as long as you live?"
"I swear that he shall be my husband and master, for all of my days," Shego said, fighting back tears of joy, "I swear this before all present, before Gods and men, and my beloved Master."
"Let all who have heard this oath uphold it!" Luke said, "For mortal flesh is weak, and mortal hearts grow dim, but honor is eternal! So give aid if ever they falter, and praise when they hold strong!" he turned to the couple and gave a rare, happy smile. "Place the rings on each other."
They untangled the rings, and slipped them on each others right arm, squeezing them so they would fit snugly and remain in place. Ron brushed a tear from her cheek, and she nuzzled his hand briefly, before the turned back to Luke.
"The oath is made, and you are bound by it." Luke proclaimed, raising his hands to the sky. "Ronald, you may kiss your bride."
Ron kissed her, deeply, soul searingly, and she flashed back to their fist kiss, so long ago, in his living room. She barely heard Astrid shouting in congratulations, or Heather clapping happily, or the various sounds of congratulations from the students. Her entire world was Ron and that kiss.
Then Ron parted and he was crying, and she was crying, and she'd never felt such happiness or belonging. She wondered if Luke had worked some magic, or if there was something else to it, and at the moment she didn't care. She was fully Master's, in every way possible, and that was all she cared about right then.
There was a great feast in the dining hall, and the sake flowed like water. She and Ron were seated at the head of the hall, and many cheers were raised to them. Someone had managed to get Luke a spoon, much to Heather's disappointment and Astrid's jolliness led Shego to suspect who was behind it.
Yori had congratulated them, but Shego could tell the girl was sorrowful that it hadn't been her to win Ron's heart. She thanked the girl, deeply, and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. She would be sad too if it was someone else who had won her Master's heart.
They feasted till they could feast no more, and drank till they could drink no more, and then Shego and her Husband retreated to their little home. Their Norse friends cheered and Astrid roared after them for Ron to finally make Shego a proper woman and put a child in her.
They got inside and stripped out of the fancy garments, their hands all over each other and trying to drink in each others very souls with their kisses. As they got under the covers, Ron supported himself above her and just looked at her. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Shego," he said, making her blush even more if that was possible.
"And you are the most handsome man in the world, Master," she purred, stroking his face. When he reached for the condoms she put a hand on his arm. He looked down at her uncertainly. "Please, Master, allow me to bear your pups?"
"Are you sure?" Ron said, "Given everything going on..."
She stroked his face, her eyes pleading with him. "Please, Master," she said softly, "If this peace summit works then we can return home and it will be safe for me to bear your pups. And if it fails, well, nothing will matter and I would rather go to my grave knowing I tried to give my beloved, wonderful husband and Master everything of myself that I could. I know it's selfish of me, and perhaps it is cruel to ask this of you, but please, allow me to do this for you, my beloved Master."
Ron nodded and kissed her, leaving the protection behind as he committed fully to her. They made love slowly, as if learning each others body for the first time. It was an hour before Ron finished in her the first time, driving her to ecstasy as he seldom had before. Even as she was in a galaxy she came down to find him driving her to fresh heights. Over and over again, they made love, each time finishing deep inside her, and she prayed that whatever Gods there were out there, she would become pregnant then and there.
They kept going till sleep claimed them, and Shego had never felt more cherished or love in her life. She prayed that moment could go on forever. She prayed she would never be parted from her Master's side.