A/N: I'm back! Yay! I know a few of you readers have been anxiously awaiting the next chapter (or so I like to believe), and I won't keep you waiting!
The Past Remembered
Chapter Eight: It's All Coming Together
By The Spooky Mulder
Shego drove. Rain was pouring down outside and she had to concentrate on the road, but every once and a while she glanced at Drakken. He was staring out of the window, completely silent, which was a first for him. Shego was worried that something was wrong at first, but then she just figured that he was wondering why in the blue blazes they were rushing to Kim's side when she was sick when they devoted so much of their time to destroying her.
As Drakken looked out of the window he thought about all of the weird occurrences, and what they meant. He knew that the marriage certificate was real, but he didn't know why it even existed.
Certainly he would remember getting married
(to Stephanie)
wouldn't he?
He shook his head slightly, and then turned his gaze back to the torrent of rain that fell outside. It reminded him of another time.
He was pacing back and forth, back and forth. A few other fathers-to-be were scattered around the still waiting room. No one spoke; they were all either too scared or too sick for words. Somewhere outside the crack of thunder could be heard. Rain pounded a tattoo on the roof of the hospital, and bright flashes of light shone through the small windows. The doctors said he couldn't go in until after the birth because there were complications. "Complications?" he had repeated weakly. "What kind of complications?" The doctor, who had never liked to give bad news, looked him directly in the eye. "The baby has shifted positions. Its head is facing in the wrong direction, and that could cause problems. We're hoping it will right itself before her labor begins, but there's no way to be sure."
It. The doctor had called his baby "it". He and Stephanie had agreed to wait until the baby was born to find out what gender it was, but Drew just didn't like the impersonal sound to the word "it".
That had been over two hours ago, and the waiting had been torture. Not like Stephanie wasn't going through anything less; he was sure she was in pain. Thirty minutes ago Drew had called James. He and Dawn were on their way, but it was possible that they wouldn't make it in time. Drew really hoped that his friends were here during one of the most important moments of his life, and he wasn't sure if he could handle it without Stephanie beside him.
His attention was brought back to the present when a door burst open and his wife's doctor came out. "Mr. Lipsky, you can come now. It's almost time." His face pale, Drew followed Dr. Tilmus into the delivery room.
Stephanie's face was plastered with sweat and she was almost as pale as Drew. Her pretty features were twisted into a grimace of pain, but when she saw her husband she gave a weak smile. "Hi," she whispered. He tried to return the smile, and halfway succeeded. "Hi." A nurse handed him a mask and gloves. "Just stand right here and hold her hand until we're finished," she said kindly. Drew complied and took Stephanie's hand.
In eight more minutes it was over. The sound of a wailing newborn could be heard throughout the halls. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lipsky. You are the parents of a beautiful baby girl." Dr. Tilmus held up their new baby, who had stopped crying at the sight of her parents. She had clear green eyes and a wisp of black hair. The nurse took the baby to be cleaned, then returned a few minutes later and handed her to Stephanie. She left the two new parents alone. Stephanie looked down at her new daughter. "Drew, you're a father," she said. Drew reached over and gently touched the baby's hair. "What do you want to name her?" he asked, barely able to keep his voice from trembling. "Kimberly Ann, after my grandmother," she replied, still looking at the yawning baby. Drew smiled. "I'm a father…"
"I'm a…father…" he whispered.
Shego's head whipped around. "What?" she asked sharply. "Nothing! I didn't say anything." Drakken's eyes had widened to twice their normal size. "I didn't say anything," he repeated. Shego reluctantly shifted her eyes back to the road. After another five minutes' silence she said, "We're here." She pulled into the Possible's driveway, but didn't get out of the car. Instead she turned to look at Drakken, giving him a hard stare. "You're remembering, aren't you?"
Drakken nodded slowly. "I'm not sure what I'm remembering…well, maybe I am, but I don't think I can believe it yet."
"Fair enough. Let's go."
Kim heard the doorbell ring distantly and wondered who could be coming at this time of night. After she had gone home from Bueno Nacho- No, not home, a voice said. Back to the place I'm staying until I can live with mom and dad again. –she hadn't felt so good. Mrs. Dr. Possible had taken her temperature, only to discover that it was 103º. Dawn had demanded that Kim get to bed immediately and get some rest. Kim wasn't in the mood to argue, so she had done what she was told. Ignoring the intrusive sound of the doorbell, Kim shut her eyes and fell asleep again.
Mrs. Dr. Possible answered the door. "Hi, Dawn," Shego said.
"Please, come in."
Shego and Drakken entered the Possible home. The four adults stood there for a minute, feeling the intense awkwardness of the situation. "Kim is upstairs," James said, finally breaking the silence. "Thanks," Shego said, grabbing Drakken's arm and leading him up to Kim's room.
Drakken's mind was still furiously trying to wrap around everything that was happening. As he and Shego entered Kim's room, Drakken could tell that she was sick. "James said that she has a high fever and is a little delirious," Shego whispered. Drakken glanced from Kim to Shego, then back to Kim. "She looks sick."
Kim did indeed look sick. Her face was flushed and covered in a fine layer of sweat. She had on flannel pajamas and her sheets were twisted around her legs. Shego walked over and sat down on the bed, smoothing Kim's hair away from her forehead. Drakken, unsure of what to do, timidly walked over to the other side of the bed.
Kim's eyes fluttered open. "Oh, hi," she said upon seeing Shego. Shego smiled. "Hey, Kimmie. Feeling okay?" Kim shrugged. "I feel super."
While Kim and Shego exchanged pointless banter, Drakken felt another memory surfacing.
He and Stephanie had just dropped Kimmie off at Mama Lipsky's house and were on their way to James's lab. "What do you think he needs our help with?" Stephanie asked from the passenger's seat. Drew shrugged. "Maybe he wants a second opinion, or maybe he's bored and just wants some company…I guess we'll find out."
Ten minutes later they pulled up to the small building that served as a rocket science research lab. "I was thinking of making lasagna when we get home," Stephanie said, making small talk as they walked up to the main doors. Drew smiled. "Sounds great. I wonder if Kimmie will like it."
Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Drew, she's less than two years old. I don't think she cares if it's a fly or Italian cuisine…she'll eat it." Drew looked sheepish. "Heh…I guess you're right." When they entered their friend's work-area, they found him working intently on some beakers full of liquid. "Hello, James. How can we help?" Stephanie asked. James lifted his goggles. "Hi guys. I'm working on a new fuel that should be rich enough to burn longer. I actually just needed someone to hold the other beaker while I pour this chemical in…" He grinned. Stephanie rolled her eyes again. "James, couldn't you get someone that works with you to do it?"
"Everyone else has gone home for the day." Drew shrugged. "Well, it shouldn't take long so let's get it over with. We want to rescue Kim from my mother as soon as possible."
Stephanie and Drew put on a pair of goggles and gloves each. "Stephanie, you hold the flame under the beaker," James said, handing her a Bunsen burner. He then handed Drew a large beaker full of blue liquid. "Okay, get ready in five…four…three…two…"
"Hang on one second, Kim," Shego said. "Drakken, are you okay?" Drakken jerked his head to the side. "What? Oh…yes. I was just, eh, thinking."
When Shego interrupted their conversation, Kim noticed Drakken for the first time. "Daddy," she said, reaching up and pulling him down into a hug. Drakken's eyes widened in shock at Kim's sudden action. At first he felt that he should be disturbed, but then he realized that everything was true.
Shego was half amused and half worried. In Kim's fever she had forgotten their agreement to tread lightly around Drakken, but he seemed to be taking it all right. In fact- unless her eyes were deceiving her- he was hugging Kim back.
"Drakken…" she said slowly. He released Kim and turned to look at her. Shego immediately noticed something different in his eyes. "Sheg –Stephanie –I think I remember. I remember everything."
Shego's eyes widened as Drakken…no, Drew…walked forward and embraced her. She felt a tear escape and slide down her cheek. Everything was back as it should be. The forgotten past had been remembered once again.
A/N: Heh. That last line was kind of cheesy, or something.
I think you should know that this entire chapter was (somehow) inspired by Star Wars. Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith comes out on DVD November 1st! Yay! Oh, and this isn't the last chapter. I'm going to write an epilogue. Please review and tell me what you think of the (somewhat) end of "The Past Remembered"! Thanks!
Until I write again,
The Spooky Mulder
