December 25
Shego woke up the next morning to a feeling of nausea, and a headache. She slowly began pushing herself up...and then fell down again as a wave of dizziness hit her.
"Ungh..." she groaned, setting a hand on her forehead and closing her eyes.
A heavy movement under the blankets next to her suddenly became a weight on top of her. She opened her eyes and blinked into Drakken's giddy, excited face. She moved her hand to his shoulder just as he brought his lips down to hers and greeted her with a sensuous kiss. All of her nerve endings lit on fire, and she wrapped her leg around one of his and ran her foot up and down his muscled calf.
"Good morning," he said softly, pulling away to smile at her.
"I'm nauseous," she said.
His face fell. "That's...one of the side-effects?"
She brought her hand to her forehead again and closed her eyes.
"And dizziness."
"I'm sorry... Can I...do anything to help?"
She put her arms around him and held him tight.
"Make love to me."
He blushed and kissed the tip of her nose. "Later. It's Christmas morning!"
She blinked. "How can a grown man be more excited about Christmas than about—"
He kissed her lips again and her heart raced excitedly in her chest. She squeezed his back with her hands until a sharp pain reminded her of her sprained wrist.
"Don't tease me if you don't want to," she said breathlessly when he pulled away again.
"Don't you want to unwrap presents?"
She smirked. "I already have my present."
He dropped heavily on the bed next to her and stroked her hair, still grinning with boyish excitement.
"Really, you're like a kid Dr. D. It's embarrassing."
He blushed again and glanced away. "There are...other presents for you. Under the tree."
"Did your mother actually get me something?"
He nodded. "So did I."
She smirked. And then she wondered...when would he have put another present under the tree? They'd been together all night.
He suddenly pulled the blankets down below their waists and she rolled toward him and curled in on herself instinctively.
"Hey!" she said with a frown. But he was still grinning.
She relaxed her posture as his hand went to her hip, and then slid down low over her abdomen. She tensed slightly and then shifted to lay on her back again, her brow furrowing despite the happiness on his face.
"I didn't sleep very well," she said.
"I know."
"I kept having nightmares about this."
He pushed himself up on his elbow to look at her. "Like what?"
"Nothing specific. Just..." she set her hand over his, "that it's happening."
She watched the joy begin to fade from his eyes and she pushed herself up to wrap an arm around his shoulders.
"But I wouldn't change it," she said, softly kissing his neck before dropping back onto the bed.
He looked a bit worried. "Really?"
"Really," she said, running her fingers through his hair once before rubbing her forehead again. She figured the headache was a caffeine withdrawal.
Drakken sat up and tugged the blankets modestly back up over her hips. Then he bent down and placed a kiss on her belly, right below her navel. He was back to looking excited, and she gave him an amused smirk.
"Admiring your work? Nothing to see, yet."
He blushed and set a hand back over her flat belly and gently rubbed up and down. She set her hand over his again.
"Look what you did," she chuckled.
"What we did," he answered, smiling at her.
She looked thoughtful, and then rolled away to the side.
"Stop making me want you, or I'm not going to give you a choice."
He didn't answer, and she glanced back at him over her shoulder. He was pursing his lips and smirking, apparently trying to decide for himself.
After a few moments he crawled away from her and climbed off the bed. She sighed in disappointment, but admired his figure with a flush of desire in the few seconds before he put his robe on. She burrowed back under the blankets but watched him cross the moat. Closing her eyes would only bring thoughts of what he'd declined, or else thoughts of...the baby. And she wanted him with her if she was going to entertain either thought.
"You can take your time getting up... I have to cook breakfast first. It's a tradition from my father's side," he explained as he went through his dresser drawers and got some clothes for the day.
"Will there be anything I can eat?"
He blinked and his brow furrowed. "Oh... I'll...try to make something else too, in case your stomach doesn't settle."
"Thanks," she said, flipping over again as he disappeared into the bathroom.
The queasiness in her stomach increased as thoughts of the baby immediately returned in the quiet of the room. But she tried to think instead of what they would do that day. Apparently they would start with breakfast... And then open presents.
When she was a kid it had been a rapid frenzy as her brothers ripped into their packages, pulled out toys, and then took off to play, leaving their parents to clean up and Shego sitting in the middle of a mess. And her brothers had continued the uncivilized way of doing Christmas morning into their early adulthood back when she lived with them at Go Tower.
She wondered if Drakken had the same present-opening philosophy... She smirked as she realized if he did, he would probably damage the present she'd gotten him. She'd have a chat with him beforehand about proper present-opening procedures. After all...it was time to make some new traditions.
She lay back and held her left hand in front of her face, looking at her ring. He'd chosen it with such care... And it was very becoming on her finger, even if red wasn't her favorite color. She was excited to add a wedding band to it in a few weeks, assuming their plans went ahead without interruption.
Her face fell as she wondered if they were going to be obligated to tell Drakken's mother. Or worse, invite her.
They were just going to the courthouse. A couple hours in the hover car, maybe a special dinner date while they were out, and a couple hours back, just the two of them. That's all she wanted. And he had agreed to it. She probably wouldn't even buy a special dress.
She slowly sat up and glanced around for something to put on. Finding nothing easy, she started pulling on her clothes from the previous day so she could go back to her room. She wanted to shower and be ready in plenty of time to talk to Drakken before they were stuck with his mother all morning.
Drakken was grinning ear to ear when he left the bathroom, steam from the shower flowing out through the open door around him.
"Shego, I think—"
He blinked and looked around. She was gone. Probably to her room to expedite the morning routine, he assumed.
He tucked the tails of his gray button-up shirt into his darker gray trousers and headed toward the kitchen. He had slept later than he should have. But after all of the previous night's events and activities, he was exhausted. Coffee would be welcome.
He stopped suddenly before turning the corner out of the hallway. Shego would want coffee... But his mother said it was bad for the baby.
He bit his lip as he continued, wondering what to do.
'Arf! Arf! Arf!'
Drakken grinned. "Good morning, Admiral Cuddles!"
He scooped up the dog and ruffled its fur as it licked at his hand the rest of the walk to the kitchen.
"How about some chicken for the good boy? Would you like that?"
Drakken set the dog down and got some cold chicken out of the fridge that had gone unused in lunch the day before. He spooned some slices into the dog's bowl and watched the little Maltese wag its whole body in excitement as it began eating.
He hummed in satisfaction and then set about making the breakfast he knew his mother would expect. Potato pancakes were the unique item on the menu and would take the longest to prepare, so he didn't waste time getting started. Really he should have started the night before, but...things hadn't gone as planned.
He realized he needed to apologize to his mother. As difficult as she had been, it hadn't warranted him being disrespectful to her. And now as he reflected on the past day and a half, he realized it would have been best to simply tell his mother the truth about his and Shego's engagement to begin with. And if the intimate nature of their relationship came up...to tell the truth about that too.
It was difficult as a villain knowing when to lie and when not to.
At least hopefully...now, they could move forward. And then in a few hours his mother would leave.
He sighed. Unfortunately...it was a temporary solution to a long-term problem, now that there was to be a grandchild. And it would have to be talked about with Shego.
Since they were 'heroes' in his mother's eyes, she especially wouldn't understand his reticence to spend time with her. And she would want to spend far more than just holidays with them, because of the baby.
Drakken smiled softly as he stirred the mixture of grated potatoes, egg, flour, butter, and onion together in a bowl.
A baby. A family. He and Shego were a family, and they were having a baby together.
His heart thumped joyfully as he imagined what it might be like to hold a small, new life in his arms that symbolized the love he and Shego shared. It was really...all he'd ever wanted. To be loved. And to love that person back. And create a life together with them, and give them everything they desired. He'd always hoped to be a father too, but he'd never expected the opportunity would actually come.
He was grinning so much that his cheeks hurt. He hadn't realized he had so much love inside of him to give.
A soft knock on the wall caused him to turn around, and his mother was peering into the room uncertainly.
"Good morning, Son," she said.
He set the mixing bowl down and wiped his hands on his apron.
"Good morning, Mother," he said, crossing the room and giving her a hug. Admiral Cuddles left his food to jump up on her legs, tail wagging excitedly.
"Son... I'm sorry I was—"
"It's...it's in the past, Mother," he said with a shy smile.
She smiled weakly at him and returned the hug before reaching down to pet Admiral Cuddles.
"Would you like to help me cook breakfast?" he asked.
"Of course, Son!" she said, hurrying to join him at the counter. "How is...how is Shego this morning?"
"She's feeling a bit sick, but...I don't think she's mad anymore," he said, considering her actions from the morning and the previous night.
"Did she...I mean, did the two of you...share a bed last night?"
Drakken blushed and frowned. "We usually do. We're...committed to each other," he said. "Why?"
His mother glanced up at him from where she had started the preparations for fresh cinnamon rolls.
"I was wondering if she had a good night. Did she get any rest?"
Drakken blushed again, but focused on what his mother actually meant. "She's still feeling sick, and she had trouble sleeping."
"Oh. You know...some ginger will help her stomach feel better. Can I...add some to these rolls?"
"Ginger rolls?" Drakken asked, furrowing his brow. It was breaking tradition... "All right."
"I'll fix her some peppermint tea, too..." his mother said, stepping around him to look through the cupboard.
"Actually...she's going to want coffee, Mother."
He watched as she opened her mouth to protest...and then closed it. "All right," she agreed with a nod, though she looked anxious.
"Don't worry. I won't...let her have it every day. But it's Christmas," he said, his smile returning. He also thought about fixing Shego a latte as opposed to her usual black coffee to go easier on her stomach. Maybe with some honey...
"Drew..."
He turned and looked at his mother, standing with the fresh ginger root in her hands a few feet away from him.
"I really am happy for both of you," she said.
Drakken pursed his lips and then smiled, taking a slow breath in and out.
"Thank you, Mother. I...I'm glad you're here."
Shego limped into the kitchen on her crutch wearing deep green yoga pants and a long-sleeved button-up shirt that was slightly too big for her. The tails hung down below her waist, and she'd rolled the sleeves up to just below her elbows. It was patterned in dark purple and black plaid and she had it buttoned up the front higher than she usually would. She could be modest on Christmas, for the sake of Drakken's mother. She'd decided on just slippers for her feet as she didn't plan on leaving the lair that day, and she had wrapped her sprained wrist up in a compression bandage since her brace had been destroyed the night before.
Drakken was hanging his apron up on the magnetic hook to the side of the fridge as she turned the corner, and Mrs. Lipsky was setting a steaming plate of something in the middle of the table.
"Oh!" the older woman said upon seeing Shego, and Drakken turned around.
Shego wanted to feel smug at the nervous look on Estelle's face but...for some reason she didn't. She did feel a bit put off just seeing her, though. She continued into the room with a small frown.
"So what's this special breakfast?" she asked.
She watched Estelle and Drakken exchange looks before Drakken answered.
"Potato pancakes. My grandfather on my father's side always wanted potato pancakes."
"They were from Eastern Europe?" Shego asked as she sat down.
"Mm," Drakken nodded, bringing three steaming cups of coffee to the table and sitting down. He had traded chairs with his mother, so instead of his typical spot across from Shego he was next to her on her left. His mother sat opposite Shego.
Drakken served her one potato pancake, and then two for his mother, and three for himself. As soon as the scent hit Shego's nose her stomach began to turn, and she leaned back in her chair.
He continued serving the three of them, adding a perfectly poached egg atop the pancakes, and then put on each plate a slice of ham, an apple hash, and something that looked like a cinnamon roll with a glaze instead of frosting and some sort of of sugared bits of something golden.
Shego took a long, slow breath as she stared at the plate. Suddenly the idea of speaking to Drakken's mother seemed more appealing.
"Shego..."
She looked up at Drakken's worried face.
"You have to eat something," he said anxiously.
She nodded and took up her fork. Breaking the egg over the potato pancake, she cut into it and took a bite. The taste immediately caused her stomach to turn and she held her breath, suppressing her gag reflex.
Drakken set a hand on her arm and rubbed it sympathetically.
Shego swallowed the food down and looked up at Drakken's mother.
"How long is this going to go on?" she asked quietly.
Estelle blinked and straightened up, seeming surprised to be addressed.
"...Do you know how far along you are?" the older woman asked cautiously.
Shego glanced at Drakken, who blushed.
"If we counted right, just over three weeks," she answered.
"Oh my."
"Fifty-something..." Shego muttered, leaning back again. She looked up at Estelle's worried face, and then over at Drakken, who was looking between the two of them. "What?"
"Well, you're starting to feel sick a bit early..."
Shego's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"Probably...that you're going to be very sick, for a long time."
"How long?" she growled.
Estelle fidgeted nervously in a way that reminded Shego of Drakken. "Maybe...another twelve weeks or so."
Shego's eyes widened. She swore.
"Shego!" Drakken gasped, though the reprimand was halfhearted. His mother did look shocked.
Shego sighed. "I can't eat this," she said, setting the fork down.
Drakken looked anxious. "But...you have to eat something. You've barely eaten anything for two days!"
"I know," Shego growled, crossing her arms. She felt ridiculous. She knew she probably appeared very immature. Not that she cared what either of them thought. But she should be able to handle herself better than she was.
"Um..."
Shego looked up as Estelle spoke nervously.
"Why don't you try the roll? It's ginger."
Drakken perked up hopefully. "Mother made it special for you. She says it will settle your stomach."
Shego eyed the cinnamon roll-looking morsel for a moment and then cut into it with her fork. Chewing the bite was no better or worse than the potato pancake.
"Give it some time to work," Mrs. Lipsky said gently.
"...Okay," Shego said, and took another bite. Unfortunately, the older woman was the one with actual experience between them. She'd give her advice a chance.
After swallowing down two more bites, which took much longer than she thought it should, she picked up the drink Drakken had given her.
"Is there coffee in this?" she asked, eyeing the milky substance.
He nodded. "It's a latte. With honey."
Shego raised a brow. She had to be in the right mood for sweet coffee. She took a sip...
This is delicious...
She set the cup down and gave him a small smile. Then she realized...it was the first thing in two days that hadn't tasted off. Her smile grew.
Drakken's frame relaxed in relief, and he took a large bite of his breakfast. Shego took another slow bite of the roll, and looked over at Estelle. She still looked tense, casting anxious glances at Shego as she ate.
Serves her right...