25. Miracle

December, 2006

"It's going to snow again!"

Shego's brow rose as she looked at Drakken with his face and hands pressed to the window pane. She wasn't sure how he could stand it, with the sun shining so brightly in the hour just after sunrise.

"It's been snowing for days," she said as she pulled on a second pair of socks. Her multiple layers of clothing, which she still wasn't used to, were proof of the fact.

"But it's so beautiful! Oh, maybe it will still be snowing when we go ice skating!" Drakken exclaimed giddily before he bounced away from the window to put on his own snow gear, leaving behind a fading cloud of condensation from his breath and oil stains from his skin.

Shego shook her head with a slight grimace and glanced out the window, squinting to see some infinitesimally small flakes that were starting to glitter in the sun as they floated and spun on their way to the ground. She didn't much care for the little crystalline miracles, but Drakken... He couldn't get enough of them.

Finally bundled up for the promised winter walk, Shego walked into the foyer where Drakken was hopping on one foot as he struggled to get a boot on.

"Wouldn't you rather stay inside, where it's warm?" Shego asked, sidling up to him with a smirk. "And...toasty?"

She had slid her hands around his waist, one rising to lie flat on his chest and the other boldly dipping below his belt at the small of his back. She flared her glow for a split second and smirked when his face flushed. He swallowed nervously and stepped out of the awkward embrace to sit on the hall bench and tie his laces.

"W-We can...come inside later, when it's night?" he said, clearly reading her implications.

"Or we could stay inside now," Shego said, standing a step back to pose for him, wondering if the 'bundled for inclement weather'-look was still appealing. By the look Drakken gave her and the deeper flush to his cheeks, it was. But he still appeared giddy and thoughtful as he continued doing up the laces on his snow boots.

"But, Shego... The pond is finally frozen over," he said when he finally stood and picked up his ice skates from the caddy next to the door.

Shego was calculating her next move when he opened the front door and gasped. She looked at the bright, childlike wonder on his face and then stepped to his side. The sun was still shining and the snowflakes sparkled as they fell.

"Have you ever looked at a snowflake under a microscope? No two are alike," Drakken said without looking at her. She lifted a single eyebrow. Surely he must know she hadn't?

He continued without her answering, surprising her as he often did with his unique knowledge on so many subjects as he explained the science behind snowflakes. As he rambled she watched the glitter of the flakes as they fell, soon becoming entranced by the silver-white curtain that fell in almost a pattern. It was similar to the hypnotic effect of approaching waves on the water.

She was barely aware when Drakken handed her her skates before they stepped out onto the sidewalk, the snow crunching softly under their feet. Her arm slipped into his and she decided she could handle the chill for awhile. It was worth it, to give him the gift of watching his long-anticipated snowfall with a loved one at his side.