A/N: We are in the home-stretch and I am finally caught up! Two more chapters to go!

If anyone feels like dropping a review to let me know what they think, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks so much to those who have!

29. Tradition

December, 2006

Drakken smiled as he slowly turned the pages in the photo album. He was still amazed that two years in a row he and Shego had had the same gift idea. But she had beaten him to the album once again, adding photos from their entire year that was marked both by new successes and failures in villainy, and as being their first year as a couple. The framed photo he had given her of their first kiss—another lucky capture by one of their henchmen—was the only thing missing from the album, he making sure that he had the only copy months before Christmas. But Shego had hidden the album away even before then.

It had also been no small feat to hide it from his mother that day as their villainy was still the utmost secret from her. But as they were leaving for the lair that night, he risked glancing through the photos as he sat on the sofa and waited for Shego to come down the stairs. He could easily slip the album into his suitcase without his mother seeing it.

He heard Shego approaching with her bags as he reached the final two pages of the album, which were blank. They would need a new album to keep up the tradition next year...

An idea suddenly struck him, and he closed the album and hid it safely in his suitcase.

"You ready Dr.— Drew?" Shego asked, glancing down the hall in case his mother was in hearing. The woman in question appeared at that moment, but from the kitchen.

"Oh, it was so nice having you two for Christmas! Are you sure you can't stay until New Year's?"

"Yes, Mother, I'm certain," Drakken said as the smaller woman took both of his hands. "But...Mother, could we borrow your Polaroid camera for the next week? I'll mail it back to you."

"Oh, of course Drewbie! It's in the closet next to my purse, where it always is."

"Thank you," he said with a smile, giving her hands a squeeze before he moved to get the device.

"But, we took plenty of pictures during your visit," she continued, confused. "What do you need it for?"

"Yeah..." Shego said, and Drakken glanced back to see her standing behind his mother with a raised brow.

Drakken took a deep breath as he grabbed the camera from the closet, feeling nervous jitters begin to creep outward from his chest. But he turned back to both women with a smile.

"For one more gift, Mother."

Mama Lipsky looked at him in a mixture of excitement and curiosity, while Shego raised her brow at him in question. But he turned his attention to his mother as he crossed the room again to hug her goodbye.

"I'll call you when it's in the mail," he said, and then leaned back to smile at the older woman. "Thank you for a wonderful Christmas, Mother."

"Oh, it really was perfect!" she replied as Drakken moved to pick up his suitcase. Shego followed him to the door with her own, still looking curious. "Please come back and visit again soon, Drewbie."

Drakken took a deep breath to make his usual excuse, but then relaxed. "We will."

The pair left the house with another quick round of hugs and goodbyes with his mother waving to them the entire walk to the hover-car. Once there, Drakken unzipped his suitcase to tuck the Polaroid camera inside.

"What's the camera for? What gift?" Shego asked as she climbed into the vehicle.

Drakken took a long look at the precious photo album next to where he'd put the camera before zipping the suitcase closed. He felt the nervous jitters again as he tossed the bag into the back of the hover-car and then hopped inside himself.

"Come on Drakken, what is it?"

Rather than answer her question he leaned across the seats and gave her a powerful kiss.

"Mmmh, can't tell," he said enigmatically when he leaned back and started the car.

"Why not?" Shego muttered a bit deliriously as she sank into her seat.

Drakken lifted the vehicle off the snow-covered ground and up into the dark, starry sky. He took a breath to steady his nerves as he began to plot...his most risky plan ever.

"Because it's for you."