Topic Timing
The sound of the silverware and cutlery was becoming invasive. Shego leaned against the wall waiting for them to be seated, they hadn't been waiting long but it felt like it. It was more the lack of company that was making it feel longer, despite Mama Lipsky talking to her. She was annoyed that Drakken hadn't joined them, despite the teasing earlier... it was something he would typically get over... which meant there was something else bothering him.
"Shego?" came Estelle's voice.
Shego looked towards her.
"They asked if we want one of the tables or a small booth?" asked Estelle. Shego looked up to see the hostess giving her an impatient smile.
"Oh... ohm. Booth-" said Shego. She thought again, "No. Table. Booth."
"Is that your final answer," giggled Estelle, "My, someone's distracted."
"It doesn't matter," sighed Shego as they began walking. She watched the hostess' shoulder slump, "Somewhere with a window."
The hostess made a direct and sharp turn the opposite way they started.
"Somethings on your mind," stated Estelle, "Are you okay dear... is it because your a little older? When you reach my age it's just another day."
"No," said Shego as they sat down, "Did DrakâDrew say anything to you before I came into the lab... other than ditching us?"
She watched Estelle pause.
"Not particularly," she said.
The way her lips momentarily pursed and she glanced at her glass before answering was a telltale sign there had been something. Shego was finding the more times she spent with Drakken's mother, the more mannerisms she could tell were inherited.
"Are you sure?" asked Shego.
She raised a brow and tilted her head... but unlike Drakken, Estelle wasn't intimidated. She watched the older woman shake her head and sip the water at the table. Shego tried a different tactic and sighed and let her shoulders fall.
"Then what's gotten into him," she muttered, "My teasing normally doesn't bother him that much."
"Oh, Shego dear, you didn't do anything," hastened Estelle, "Drew's just..."
She trailed off an gave Shego a questioning look. A glint in her eye that like always, made it clear that Estelle knew more than she tended to let on. This time in reading Shego's tactic, especially with the slight smirk on her face.
"What do you recommend?" asked Estelle, changing the subject and not answering Shego's question.
"Fine," huffed Shego. She picked up the menu, "The seafood is always good."
"I would hope so, we are in Greece," said Estelle, "Have you tried the-"
"He has been avoiding me all week... " Shego trailed off, "Sorry, what was your question?"
"Oh no, it's fine. I know what I'm getting," responded Estelle, she smiled at Shego, "Shego, dear... I have a different question. I remember once you had to visit your family during Thanksgiving... you don't talk about them much..."
Shego looked up from her menu to see Estelle focusing on her.
"Is it one of those later life things or was there a less than warming home growing up?" asked Estelle. Shego put down her menu altogether and looked around, "Are you okay?"
"I'm trying to see if this is a nightmare," whispered Shego. She cleared her throat, "My brothers and I... aren't what you'd call close... well as close as we once were."
"I see," she nodded, "Well life does happen and I'm sure you love them regardless."
"Some more than others," smirked Shego, "Why do you ask?"
"Well... you know so much about our family and I feel like I never get to hear about yours," said Estelle, "I'm always curious about how a family makes a person... look at Eddie... Michelle let him run wild and what has that gotten him?"
"Lots of money, a doctorate, and real-estate with expensive cars," said Shego casually, "Also a face and personality one really wants to blast into a cop car."
"Yes," nodded Estelle, "But despite that he was raised in a supportive and loving environment and still he found the need to be... well... the dinners you two came to were hardly the only ones law enforcement showed up at."
"I assumed that was every holiday with Eddie," shrugged Shego.
"... now that you mention it," Estelle trailed off.
Shego mulled over Estelle's question as they placed their orders. Attempting to find a reason for the questions at hand and if they correlated to Drakken. Try as she might, she couldn't find a connection. Drakken had met her brothers on several occasions, knew exactly why they gave her a migraine... and knew more about her family and history than anyone besides herself knew. The only thing she could think of was that Estelle had a genuine interest in the topic... which given the length of time she'd known her... wasn't exactly strange... and she did attend family functions.
Another thought occurred to Shego... her memories... while still foggy to sort out what was real and what still might be imagination... she hadn't even truly discussed any of them with Drakken.
He hasn't really pried...
"Were your parents supportive and loving?" asked Estelle. Shego looked at her, "Is this awkward?"
"Yes," said Shego.
She could see the apology coming from Estelle but Shego's mind was racing... there was something about Estelle asking about her family that didn't aggravate her like it normally would from anyone... she didn't know if it was the motherly presence the women brought or if it was just finally someone asking her questions since she could remember... but she found herself answering before Estelle could change the topic.
"Yes they were," said Shego. Estelle closed her mouth and smiled, "My dad worked a lot... undercover or private work... I'm pretty sure... and my mom stayed home. She home-schooled us."
"Really? Is that why you have a degree in teaching?" asked Estelle, "Because your mother was your teacher?"
Shego stared for a moment.
Is it?
"Maybe," she whispered, "But yeah... they were always supportive... loving."
There was that familiar ache she hadn't felt since she'd woken from her fever-induced coma... the mourning feeling that still felt foreign.
"They sound very traditional... the stay-at-home aspect... and a large family?" she saw the grin flicker across Estelle's face.
An image of the funeral came back and then the pulverized crater where everyone had been.
"We did have a big family," said Shego.
She felt uncomfortable now, not from Estelle asking... but the memories her mind chose to focus on.
"So was your mother a formal teacher-"
"I don't know... she never talked about it," said Shego. She shook her head, "I mean I suppose... I remember her talking about boarding schools once..."
Shego began to wonder if her memories were slipping away again or if she honestly had never been told, either way it was adding to the discomfort this conversation was starting to give her. If it was anyone other than Drakken's mother she would have told them in a few choice words to stop prying... but she knew there was nothing being asked out of malice... and she did know plenty about their family.
More than them...
She shook her head and took a drink of the water the table provided.
"Can we talk about something else?" asked Shego.
She watched Estelle open her mouth as if to protest but instead it turned into a softer accepting smile.
"That's fine, dear," she hummed as she sipped her own water, "How are you and Drew doing?"
Shego looked was suddenly confused.
"I mean, I'm fine... you can ask him when we get back-"
"I meant your relationship? I know I interrupted a little personal time the other night-" Estelle was cut off.
"We're fine!" Shego said louder than she intended. She cleared her throat, "I mean... we're perfectly fine... and you weren't interrupting..."
Shego trailed off.
Yes, she did!
"Don't be so shy, Shego... you two are both adults. I know things are different than when I was younger or even when I was raising Drew," said Estelle casually. Shego felt her face grow warm.
"Yeah, well... where is that food?" asked Shego quickly.
"I do worry about today's young people. This dates my age, but in my generation, we were expected to wait for those things... if not for marriage then at least till both said or implied you were in love," stated Estelle casually, "I was listening to the radio the other day..."
Shego let Estelle prattle on about some channel she listened to and its news on the modern age... but only to nod or throw a word in to make it appear she was focused, but her mind was elsewhere. Her mind had zoned in on the tail part of Estelle's statement.
Love.
It sounded silly in her head as she thought of it. Had that been the conversation she had missed? Was that why Estelle had chosen this topic in hopes of discussing it... she seemed rather fixated on it at this point. In truth she'd never even thought about telling Drakken those words, simply assuming it didn't need to be. There had been a few times it had almost slipped out, but caught herself. Now she wondered if it was something she should have said. The memory of his flustered expression as they teased him and the very subject of apparently past relationships should have been more of a tipping off... but she'd assumed it had been Estelle's topic even then... what if it hadn't been?
She felt her hands tugging on her hair as the waiter stopped by, but she said nothing except nod at his presence. She looked at Estelle as she animated talked to the waiter and narrowed her eyes in thought. A sharp concern that Estelle had asked Drakken about where his relationship with Shego was at... and what if Drakken hadn't been sure... thus this topic.
We've been a couple for months...
She nodded and grabbed her drink.
We've known each other for years...
Her brow raised as she mulled over the idea that perhaps that had been the very topic Drakken had been about to talk about before he'd noticed Estelle's arrival...
That can't be that big of a deal- he proposed to women in less time and with less-
She let go of her hair and glared out the window at this.
"Shego, dear-"
"We have been a couple for nearly six months..." she stated as if she was going somewhere but stopped.
"Dear, is there more being said?" asked Estelle after a minute.
"I..." She shook her head, "I just... didn't register that it's been that long."
"Are you sure?" asked Estelle. There was something in her eyes that almost seemed expecting, "Do you have a correlating thought to my statement... do you think that's too soon or not soon enough for affirmation or more?"
Shego thought of a response. Wondering if she should bring up Drakken's attempted prior engagements in order to vent her new annoyances... but this she discouraged herself. If she said something, Estelle would bring it up to Drakken and he would think Shego was expecting an engagement... the very topic she'd brought up about her husband that morning.
Wait...
Her head stopped processing anything for a response. Simply piecing a skewed puzzle together... Estelle was leaving early tonight... Drakken avoided her all week and the conversation she'd interrupted this morning again. The topic suddenly made sense for Estelle to bring up, and the topic of her family... she wasn't hinting... she was fishing. She couldn't weave a coherent thought as her heart raced and she wondered if she was jumping to conclusions or if she wasn't... what she should do.
"Shego-"
"Did you discuss with Drew who is taking you to the airport?" said Shego quicker than she intended. She backtracked, "Not to fully change the topic, but I was trying to figure out our reservations this evening."
"Oh well, no we didn't... I told him I was leaving early but overall... you and I are the only ones to talk about it," said Estelle.
She seemed annoyed at the topic change but Shego's question had made the full shift on planning for this evening. While Estelle talked about flight arrangements, Shego was playing over everything that may or may not happen this evening and if she needed to relax or dig in her closest for something a little less comfortable and a little more enticing.
He opened the drawer... he closed the drawer... he opened it again. Drakken let out an annoyed groan as he flopped into his lab chair. The work he'd attempted to get done, now abandoned as he threw together what he had been holding off until Christmas to finish. Knowing that Shego had beat him to the many items he'd sent her and the fact his original plans this evening were up to debate... he had opted to finish her Christmas gift in between working on a signal boosting device for a contract.
The signal boosting was child's play if he was being honest and while he had more interesting projects at his disposal, it was simple and quick... but his mind couldn't focus on that today. He glared at the overhead of the lab mentally fuming at his mother. There had been no doubt in his evening plans until she began questioning him about it. In truth he should have thought more about given previous disasters... but he'd been more focused on getting the perfect ring, he hadn't stopped to think if it was even something appropriate yet. It wasn't uncommon for either of them to make jokes about it, but he was starting to wonder if it would just be the very failure he was subconsciously waiting for.
He ran over his plans again. A romantic evening, finally getting those pesky important topics out of the way after dinner... and then perhaps a hovercar proposal... perhaps he hadn't really thought it through. He looked down at the leather box before opening to look at the ring.
It was perfect.
Everything he'd detailed was there, the shine, the jewels... not a fake stone insight. He pulled it out to look at the engraving and let out a deep breath. All his excitement had been replaced by pure anxiety as he placed it back in the box and closed the drawer. He began weaving a speech affirming his feelings for her... but he now imaged her giving a strained smile or worse... not acknowledging his verbal love at all.
With a dramatic groan, he flopped on his table, not caring that a few tools fell off the table and there was something digging in his arm. He began thinking about his mother's words and her own engagement... a weekend-long event with a private restaurant... enough time to know if it was right and in case it went wrong... no witnesses to further mock a failure.
"May have been on the right track there, father," he muttered to himself.
He felt the familiar tingle in his back and sighed.
"Any advice there, Flower?" asked Drakken.
The ping appendage flopped on the desk dramatically, as if in defeat.
"You know one of the few reasons you're around is to help resolve these internal disputes," grumbled Drakken.
Flower perked up and turned towards him before knocking over a few pens.
"What was the point of that," sputtered Drakken as he grabbed them and sighed, "What if she says 'No'... what if I don't propose and tell her how I feel... and she doesn't respond at all."
Flower patted the top of his head, which Drakken shoved away.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking everything," he sighed. His brow furrowed, "Or what if I'm jumping ahead- we haven't even talked about- Nighn! Curse you mother, for getting in my head!"
Flower bopped him hard in the face.
"Don't chastise me!" Drakken held his finger up, "A very small chemically altered and concentrated Glyphosate and you would cease to be so sassy."
Flower tilted and moved closer in front of him.
"Because you would not exist- Why am I threatening you- you are my subconscious," snapped Drakken, "I need to figure out what I am doing or not doing before- Flower!"
Drakken looked to see Flower was attempting to submerge itself in one of the nearly empty water jugs. He let out a frustrated growl.
"Just... just go," hissed Drakken as he grabbed the water and waved Flower away.
Drakken waved his hand and Flower retreated as he grabbed the nearest jug and took a drink. He leaned on his elbow and looked at the jug and then around the room. The partially finished projects, papers shoved around, to where Shego's chair sat not far away, books and magazines stacked next to it. Once gossip magazines now mainly replaced by gardening and plant magazines that even Drakken hadn't spent time researching for his own plants. His eyes fell back to the jug and smirked before opening the drawer again.
Make a decision-
"Have you been down here the whole time?"
Drakken screamed at the sound of Shego's voice suddenly interrupting his thoughts. He looked up to see her looking at her with a startled expression but a smirk at the corner of her lips. He hastily slammed the drawer shut and ignored the sharp pain as his fingers were slightly nicked.
"Shego!" he yelled and then let out a frustrated sigh, "Why?"
He saw her fight back the smirk as she responded.
"The stairs are right in front of you... if you don't see me walking down them, that's not my fault," she said innocently as she sat on the corner of his desk, "Are you over your dramatic mood?"
Drakken rolled his eyes.
"And it continues," she sighed, "Well you missed a nice breakfast... and Q and A session."
Drakken's stopped rubbing his hand and looked at Shego with wide eyes.
Mother!
"What do you mean?" asked Drakken.
"She took interest in my family history and we talked about moral standards of today," droned Shego, "Then there was this cute cook that finally took us off that topic."
Drakken's internal panic halted and he glared.
"A cute cook?" he asked.
"Yes, your mother was focused on his... how did she say it... tooshie?" said Shego. Drakken's mood was mid-shift to disturbed when Shego gave a playful smirk, "I didn't see it... now his -"
"Are you just telling this to make my mood dramatic again?" glared Drakken.
Shego's face remained unmoved as she looked at him a beat before continuing.
"Food...was something to talk about," she grinned. Drakken grumbled in a mix of emotions as he held a slight glare at her, "I've spent all week with your mother... and you ditched me for breakfast with her on my birthday... what do you expect other than moderate teasing?"
Drakken stared at her. The features on her expression were amused but he could see the agitation in her eyes. He rolled his eyes and nodded, choosing not to accelerate things by bringing up her teasing had been what had caused his mood to begin with.
That's a lie.
"Also, is there a reason why your mother is leaving earlier than after dinner tonight?" asked Shego as she leaned towards him, "Not complaining, but is this going to be one of those... she cut it short so she's going to stay longer next time things?"
"I hope not," sputtered Drakken. He searched for an explanation but his mouth moved before he could think, "I just thought dinner would be nice with just us and she agreed."
That actually sounds plausible.
She raised a brow at him but her smirk relaxed into a smile.
"That might be the best gift," said Shego, "Listen, I don't mind your mother being here-"
"I do," interrupted Drakken.
She rolled her eyes and snorted.
"I would just appreciate that maybe you didn't ditch her solely on me," she finished. Her expression became softer as she continued, "I mean you're lucky I l-"
The side door to the storage room opened loudly and Drakken looked towards it.
"Hey boss-" Lucius began. He froze as he looked their way.
Drakken was confused for a second by the man's suddenly startled expression until he looked back at Shego. Her hand was ignited as she looked towards Lucius, her hair blocking the view of her face as she leaned over the desk in front of him. Lucius gave a nervous grin as he backed out the door.
"It's not important," was all that was said as the door closed.
"Weird," scoffed Shego as she turned towards Drakken with a confused smile, "He left in a hurry."
"Might have a few reasons why," said Drakken as he gestured to Shego's hand.
The glow faded quickly.
"So I was caught off guard," she rolled her eyes. There was something nervous about her expression, "I think we were talking about-"
The elevator door opened.
"I'm all packed," came Estelle cheerfully, "Do you think your little flying saucer can get me to the airport in let's say... forty minutes?"
Drakken stared at his mother grinning at him and was about to go grab one of the henchmen when Shego's words caught up to him. He had managed to dodge most of the time with his mother all week and he was certain Shego needed some decompression time... plus he needed to find out exactly what his mother has been asking Shego.
"We should probably leave now," sighed Drakken. Shego sighed and slid off the table, "I'll take Mother."
He'd expected an eye roll or scoff that it 'was about time' he did something with her... but Shego's expression was unreadable and the only response he got was a slight shrug. Drakken paused his walking, his expression must have been one of confusion because there was a sudden smile across Shego's face that didn't look completely genuine.
"Shego-"
"Go or she's going to miss her flight," said Shego hastily as she pushed him.
Drakken was still confused at her expression, not sure why there was no relief in her voice at least, but it sounded annoyed. Her expression conveyed relaxation as she gently pushed him towards where his mother was waiting on the platform.
"I guess I'll just... spend some time in the hot tub," sighed Shego. The smirk she gave made Drakken's confusion finally vanish.
"Shall I hurry back?" he asked. There was a second he was about to chastise himself but it was cut off by Shego.
"That was the implied incentive," said Shego.
"Couldn't one of the boys fly me-" Estelle began but Drakken cut in.
"I'm coming, Mother!" yelled Drakken as he moved swiftly to the stairs, "Come now, on to the elevator."
"Don't start bossing me around, young man," glared Estelle, but Drakken managed to stir his mother into the elevator before she could lecture him.
The lecturing would take place until they would reach the hovercar... before it would start his own lecture and concerns at what might have already been said to Shego.
He had never heard his mother so silent.
Hmm, where shall this evening fail-GO! I meant GO!
