Shego debated joining Drakken during his Sun session during her whole morning routine. To say that their date the previous evening flopped was to say nothing. And what was that ending? Thanking her for her effort? What in the world was that? Not that she expected any traditional date finale with a kiss and so forth, but what was going on in that man's head? Couldn't she just ask? Yes, it will be awkward, but they have to move forward somehow. So she put on her bikini and soldered into the basement, determined to get her answers.

Drakken was already there, when she entered the tub room as she dubbed it. She unzipped her cat suit, turned on the tan lamp and settled on the bed, as always observing Drakken's back. Her observations revealed to her that the green skin was steadily progressing to his elbows. If the mutation progresses at that speed, he will be completely green by the time of the reunion.

"We didn't settle the matter of dancing yesterday."

"You are kidding me, D?!"

"Why should I? I think we have enough time to teach you. I just need to know if you are up for it, because it takes time I don't particularly have. But I can find it if you are game. You have perfect coordination and not tone deaf as that certified asshole, so the chances of success are pretty high. Or we can just drop it. Nobody can force us onto the dance floor."

"Certified asshole?" Shego asked, drowning in giggles.

"You consider it also a safe compliment? I can do worse, you know. Although, I am grateful to him, so certified asshole it is."

"Grateful?! For what?!"

"If it wasn't for him being blind to the treasure by his side, we would've never met. …We tested the safety of the lanterns, so we can put up the remaining ones. You free tonight?"

Shego's mind still reeled from Drakken equating her to a treasure, so she just nodded. Safe compliment indeed.

...

That evening Shego's time was spent on the plantation. Drakken had a carriage with spheres for her to fill and when the green energy was secure, he lifted it up and put on a hook with his vine. It took them close to three hours to place all the lanterns since she had to be completely calm for her energy to be… positive? Neutral? So there was not much talking. When they finished, Drakken cut off the vine and rolled it into something resembling a wreath and put on Shego's head. She had no idea how to react to that, so she didn't.

On the way back, Shego became compelled to proceed to the next stage of her plan since the circumstances were ideal for it. It took Drakken fourteen seconds to notice. Yes, she counted.

"What's that, Shego?"

"What do you mean?" she asked innocently. Although both knew 'Shego' and any version of the word 'innocent' could not be in the same context.

"This!" he squealed, waving their intervened fingers in front of her face.

"PDA. You need to get used to me touching you. To me being near you. To me whispering into your ear," she finished doing exactly that.

Drakken shuddered so hard that his hand almost slipped out of hers, but Shego held fast.

"Is this really necessary?" he asked as if she was planning to torture him or serve him cold cocoa moo.

"And how do you think we can communicate things nobody is supposed to hear?"

"Okay then."

"That's it?"

"Your strategy is solid, there is not point to protest. Not that I could ever change your mind about anything."

The strategy was indeed solid and yes, he never could. Thus Shego had all the right to grin all the way back to the lab and enjoy the silence and flecks of moving lights and shadows on the vines that her own glow created.

"You've gotten your dress?"

"Dress?"

"Yes, Shego, dress for the reunion. I just need to jump into a tux, women are usually much more obsessive and peculiar about their evening wear."

Drat! She's completely forgotten about her outfit! The man was seriously driving her crazy for her to forget something so basic. "I am still looking. It has to be special after all." Good save, Shego!

"Can I have my hand back now?"

"Oh, of course." Shego didn't even notice when they reached the entrance doors.

"Till tomorrow then," Drakken said, stomping inside and waving good bye not even looking at her. Were their meetings such a chore to him?

Shego headed towards the doors herself when she inadvertently looked back at the vines. She gasped seeing the ethereal beauty of the plants bathed in moonlight and the constantly moving green light of the lanterns. They could've hung the lanterns any time in board daylight which would've been incessantly easier. Did Drakken drag her out so late to enjoy a moonlit walk with him?

…

The next week was not Shego's time friendly. All labs were abuzz with the start of the vests' mass production. Friday was again designated for celebration. Shego did not mind, since there were a lot of people in the semi-dark room and she had ample opportunity to sit pressed to Drakken and whisper into his ear running commentary about the singers. By the end of the evening he didn't jolt as much at her every touch. Moreover, Shego had a shudder or two of her own, when he returned the favor. But it was only from surprise from unexpected gestures. Nothing more.

…

The time at the lab was subjected to strict routine. Eating, patrolling, working, sleeping – all had designated time slots. Not for Shego. Shego hated schedules and preferred to thwart it in any way possible. But it was extreme even for her, when she was woken up by a frantic knocking on her door at four in the morning. Disheveled and disgruntled she dragged herself towards the door, prepared to just blast whoever was behind it and drag herself back to the comfort of her bed.

All sleep disappeared however when the door revealed Drakken anxiously driving his fingers through his untied hair and looking everywhere but at her.

"I… I am… sorry… I woke you… I need… I need to leave… leave for a couple of days… I left instructions…"

Shego was having none of it. She grabbed Drakken by the head and made him look right at her. She has never seen him in this state. His eyes were unfocused and his whole body was vibrating with nervous energy. And not one when he was on the verge of a discovery, but very bad energy. End of the world energy. "What the Hell happened? Tell. Me. Now."

"Mother…"

"Mama Lipsky? Something's wrong?"

"She… passed."

"Passed? As in died? But-" They just talked about her… About dancing and bingo tournaments… That she was happy… How could she die? "Accident?.."

"Natural causes. She was 76 after all."

"But…" There was no 'but' there. Just raw fact - Mama Lipsky was no more. "Doy, give me ten, I'll-"

"I am not asking you to accompany me, Shego. I just wanted you to know about me leaving-"

"Nonnegotiable. You can't fly the hover car in this state. And in the dark. I am coming and that's it. Wait for me in the garage. Do noteven think about sneaking away."

The funeral was a warm affair. Mama Lipsky had a lot of girlfriends old and new. Everybody had only good words to say about her. Shego held Drakken's hand through the whole ceremony. She was a child when she buried both of her parents, so did not understand much, but she could still relate. Shego knew that at some point he was to say some words about the deceased. He was her only relative, but by the look of it, Drakken was crumbling at the seams with every passing minute. Shego expected him to cry and wail in his usual dramatic fashion, but he just sat there looking at the ground, seeing nothing.

When the plethora of friends ended, Shego nudged Drakken with her elbow. "Are you going to say anything?"

Drakken stood up, but swayed sideways, so Shego had to steady him. They somehow made it to the dais. "She was my mother. She… loved me very much. She was the only one who did. And I only disappointed her. At least no more…"

The flight back was appropriately somber. Drakken remained a zombie throughout the trip and while he climbed out the hover car. He was halfway to the main building, when Shego couldn't hold back anymore. "How could you say you were only a disappointment to her? You saved the world!"

"She didn't want me to save the world. She wanted me to be happy."

….

When Shego was preparing for the 'date', she brought six bottles of champagne. One was drunk during the disaster of the date. The last one she smashed against Drakken's table, when she barged into his room close to midnight. She did not care. She did not care much about anything with five bottles of champagne sloshing inside of her.

"Shego?... Is everything… okay?"

Oh yeah, feel cautious. Isn't that the only feeling she inspired? Fear? "It's done."

"What? What's done?"

"The eggs. There is no more." And then she collapsed onto the bed and completely lost it. Shego did not remember when was the last time she cried. She didn't cry at her parents' funeral. She shed only a couple of tears when her powers activated. And she didn't cry, when Adrian screwed her over. So why? Why was she in hysterics over something she hasn't seen or even cared about?

Suddenly, she felt warm, safe, cared for. When was the last time she felt that way? Seemed like years…

"Do you regret it?" came from somewhere above.

"I don't know… I don't know anything anymore." How did she even manage to form coherent words with her wailing? "Henry… He said they looked for me…to invite to the wedding… They just didn't know where to send the card…"

"I am sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I dragged you to this secret lab… I should've told your brothers."

"What for?"

"You obviously care about them."

"I am no marshmallow!" Shego protested halfheartedly, almost getting out of Drakken's embrace. She failed – yes, she was that far gone.

"Of course not. Back then I was only teasing like you usually do, I just don't have your violent tendencies for retaliation. They are your family. And whatever you say, you still consider them as such. Despite being a villain you took your hero name and used the same suit. I am sure you wanted to hurt them with such actions, but you didn't change it later either."

"Are you saying that subconsciously I wanted to reunite with my obnoxious brothers?"

"We all want to have a family."

Shego's head had cleared enough to understand what shitty situation she allowed herself to create. The man buried his mother only three days prior and she came to complain about her own family? Who were alive and kicking and driving her crazy with wishes to if not reunite then at least keep in touch? And who Drakken has? Without his mother he was completely alone in the world.

Shego didn't know if the fault lay with the champagne or her brain short-circuiting, but her next words were, "And I am yours."

"Of course, you are, Shego. I'll help you to your room. I doubt, you want to stay here while you sober up. And you need your sleep for tomorrow."

"And what's tomorrow?" she asked groggily, allowing to help her up and steady her while she stumbled towards the other end of the building.

"Tomorrow is another day."

"Another day to save the world?"

"Exactly."