Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. If you recognize the characters, they aren't mine. I will never make any money from this.

Because

"And this is the bedroom." Ed said happily.

"It had better not be the only one," Shego griped.

"The couch folds out," Ed responded in a disappointed tone.

"It's all yours!" Shego grinned.

"The things I do, Seriously!"

Shego stepped into the bedroom and closed the door. She looked in the mirror as she passed it and realized that she still appeared to have a pale, but 'normal' skin tone. No point in that anymore. The hiding was over. She adjusted the setting on her belt buckle of her jumpsuit and was greeted by the reflection a green-skinned woman who was feared in over ten countries. "Much better."

Shego then realized that she had not brought any items with her here to Ed's place. Just her jumpsuit. "Just as well." Nothing of value was back there. Shego could think of only one thing that she at all regretted leaving behind during her underground life, and it was better off without her. It was time to move on.

Shego undressed, turned out the light and slipped into bed. She then closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Unbidden, her mind traveled back.

Shego had resolved she would not make the same mistakes that Drakken did. She would not let herself cause her own heart so much misery again. She won't break the way he did.

Drakken had fallen so hard, going to prison without her to break him out.
She'd learned the hard way, to never let it go that far again.

Because of him, for nearly a year she didn't even stray far from the sidewalk. She'd been playing everything on the safe side so that she wouldn't get hurt.
Because of him, she found it hard to trust herself and everyone around her.
Because of him, she'd been afraid.

She'd then lost her way. Ed had come to point that out.
Even so, Shego couldn't cry, because that's weakness. She has forced herself to fake a smile and a laugh every day for what seems like forever.

Ed was being useful. She couldn't figure out why. Spending time with him couldn't hurt. Her heart couldn't possibly break, when it hadn't been whole to start with.

How many times had she watched Drakken get defeated? She'd heard him cry in his sleep at night. She'd been so young then. He should have known better than to lean on his sidekick.
He'd never thought of anyone else, just his own pain. And now and then she would cry in the middle of the night for the same durn reason.

She'd tried her hardest just to forget everything, without success. She didn't know how to let anyone in. She was ashamed of her life because it was empty.
Because of him, she was once actually afraid.
Just because.

The door opened and Ed walked in wearing jockey shorts.

Shego closed her eyes even tighter against the invading light.

"Whooa," Ed intoned appreciatively.

Shego pulled the blankets up to cover her more than they already were. "You can ogle me when I'm dressed!"

"Huh?" Ed said blankly. "Oh. Sorry, Babe. I was just noticing you got the green magic back. Seriously, how'd you do that?"

"Family secret," Shego glared back, still somewhat dazed. "Is that why you barged in?"

"No," Ed scratched his head. "I was just thinking we could snag some rides tomorrow. Henchco just released some major new hardware."

Shego lay down her head and pulled the covers over her shoulder, "We'll talk in the morning."

"Cool. Seriously." The door squeaked as Ed closed it partway. "Sheg'?"

"What?" She snapped curtly, but didn't move.

"Uh. Good night," the light faded as Ed closed the door.

"Yeah. G'night." Shego eventually fell asleep.

The door opened again. Shego yelled into the light, "What is it now?"

"Breakfast." Ed's voice was cool, yet caring. "If you want it here. Seriously, I could take it back in the kitchen if ya wanna dress first."

Shego blinked several times. Ed was dressed. He was carrying a tray. On the tray was an omelet with several links of sausage nesteled together on a plate. There was also orange juice and a rose.

A rather shocked Shego sat up, pulled her blanket up and smoothed out the area covering her lap, "Here's okay, I guess."

As Ed lay it down Shego realized that the sausage smelled delicious.

"This is honey sausage!" she said, amazed. "How'd you know?"

"I saw how you scarfed it down at that picnic."

Shego picked up a fork, and then paused. "Why?" She asked suspiciously.

Ed belted out a short, hearty laugh. "I like you, Babe." He then walked out, closing the door. "See you soon."

Shego ate with pleasure and dressed. When she came out, Ed was sitting on the sofa, reading a catalog.

"So what's this new hardware you were on about?" Shego never did understand the male fascination with big, complicated steel machines.

"Have a look," Ed laid out the catalog so that a large vehicle was visible with text suggesting that it was more than a Hum-vee could hope to be. It did seem a step up from the heap Ed had helped Drakken build. "It's seriously hot."

Ed then turned over a large amount of pages. "But I thought you'd like this." A jet fighter dominated the new layout.

This Shego could understand. She ached again for the feeling of flying free and alone, yet protected and armed to the teeth. "How soon can we be ready?" she asked.

-

I finally got back to this story. I found an angle that inspired me.

I hope you enjoy it. If you don't, let me know why.