Author's note: The hardest part of this story is having Shego and Merrick sound like teenagers while they act older than their age. Bare with me if they seem older than they suppose to be.

Chapter 3: Growing Closer

Shego woke the next morning happy over how the date went the night before and she could not wait for Saturday to come. She was going to miss seeing Merrick at school the rest of the week. If it wasn't for Duncan and his lying mouth, Merrick would be at school and not suspended. Duncan has caused Shego nothing but grief since he started liking her and as the years wore on, Duncan got worse. Shego knew she would have to face Duncan that day at school and the day after as well. She would have to deal with him even more if she and Merrick started dating and went steady.

Duncan was the least of her problems because she knew she would have to set the record straight if Duncan spread more rumors about her and Merrick. She wished Duncan would just leave her alone but the creep couldn't get the hint. Shego was never going to date him and she made that clear several times. Even when he made her mad enough to try and punch him, he still would come back the next day to bug her about going out with him.

He was creepy and Shego thought he stalked her but she never seen him around. Now that she went out on a date with Merrick, Shego knew she would end up decking Duncan sooner or later. She knew the first thing Duncan would ask her, after he would ask her out, would be about her and Merrick's date. She was going to tell him the truth, the date was great and they were going out again Saturday. That should send the creep into a rage and she would laugh at him. The only thing Shego was worried about was how far Duncan would go to cause her misery over dating Merrick.

Merrick was the new guy in their grade and new people always were singled out then made fun of for some reason. Shego doubt Merrick would take the laughter lightly after she seen what he did to Duncan. He done told her he had fought most of the guys from his old school because he was different and being different was the only reason Shego asked him out the night before. She was going out on their next date because how perfect he was to her and she hoped he stayed different.

Shego let the thoughts of Merrick run through her head while she got ready for school. Merrick was the first guy she ever thought about like she was doing. She couldn't get him out of her head and she wondered if Merrick was doing the same thing. She hoped he was because that would mean he was liking her as much as she was liking him. Shego thought about Merrick all the way to school and she wished he was there so she could talk to him but he wasn't because of the creep she spotted walking down the hall toward her. Shego had to fight off the laughter because Duncan still looked messed up from the beating Merrick gave him. He even had the nerve to smile while he had missing teeth.

The first thing Duncan asked Shego was, "So when do we get to be alone."

Shego expected that and said flatly, "Umm, never."

"Oh that's right you got a BF now. So how did you date with lover boy go," Duncan asked while he showed his missing teeth smile.

"Like its any of your business. But let's just say it was wonderful and we're going on another date this weekend," Shego replied back with a smile of her own.

Duncan went speechless and had an angry look on his face. He stared at Shego for a minute the turned and stormed off from her. Before he was out of sight, he looked back at Shego and flashed her another smile.

"Well, I'm going to have a talk with your BF the next time I run into him. I'll break his face in the next time we meet," Duncan said then he went into a room he was standing by.

Shego was concern for Merrick then because she knew the history of Duncan. He along with some of his buddies have been known to jump guys before or after school and give them a beating. The events were spiraling out of control that started two days ago. From the first day Merrick was at school, he had got Shego to set a date with him, talked about the date which a guy Shego despied heard about, fought that guy a day later, and now the guy along with his friends were going to mug Merrick.

Shego knew she should warn Merrick and she would when they go on their date. He was safe for now because he couldn't come back to school until next week and Duncan didn't know where Merrick lived. Shego really started to hate Duncan and wished he would leave both of them alone. She would end the problems herself if she wasn't afraid of how people, in the school, would react over her hands glowing green. Shego laughed lightly at the idea of blasting Duncan down the hall.

The two days of school passed slowly and when the last day of school ended for the week, Shego was glad and nervous at the same time. Tomorrow, Shego was going out on her first real date with a guy she just met two weeks ago and she wanted to impress him. Shego laid out her best clothes and spent all Friday night trying on the clothes. She could never find the best of best clothes to wear and she got depressed over it. All the clothes were perfect for the date but they weren't flashy enough.

She wanted Merrick to pay attention to her, to impress him because she wanted him to like her just as much as she liked him. Shego finally groan in annoyance and flopped down on her bed because she couldn't decide which clothes was the best and it was too late in the night to go and find anything better. She laid there staring at the ceiling while she wondered if Merrick was having as much trouble as she was over clothes.

Shego doubt he was worried over impressing her because he already had without trying. Shego giggled for a second over the idea of Merrick wearing a cowboy get-up because he was from Texas. She admit he might take her breathe away at him wearing such a get-up. Shego finally stopped imaging Merrick in a cowboy look because one of her brothers knocked on the door to her room.

It was Mego because when he opened Shego's door, he poked his head into the room. He looked around for a second then stared at his sister. He narrowed his eyes for a second because he saw Shego's clothes threw all over the room and bed.

"Sis, what in the world are you doing," Mego asked while he stepped into the room.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to find clothes worth wearing on my date tomorrow night," Shego snapped at Mego because she hated her brothers coming into her room.

"Easy, sis. I just came to tell you dinner's done. So you got another date. That's a record, two in one week," Mego said while he waved his arms in front of him.

Mego had seen Shego go in a rage before over Hego coming in her room while she wasn't there. Hego was looking for a pen and he thought Shego had one in her bookbag. Shego didn't take the intrusion nicely and threathen all her brothers. They learned not to come into her room for any reason.

"Yeah and its with the same guy," Shego said happily for some reason as she sat up on the bed and glared at Mego.

"Umm, ok. So when we get to meet this guy your dating all of the sudden," Mego questioned while Shego's glared started to unnerve him.

He didn't wait for an answer because he left the room the second Shego's hands started glowing green. Shego laughed at how easy it was for her to frighten her brothers, then it dawn on her. She might scare Merrick off just as easy with her temper but he will deserve to see her wrath if he does something to make her mad. But for some reason she doubt Merrick would do something to make her mad, he didn't seem capable of making her mad. Course she misjudge guys before and that caused her to be sad. They all say anything to get what they want but Merrick only small talked with her and answered the questions she asked.

Shego finally left the room to go eat dinner and the second she was done, she came back into her room and looked over her clothes again. She decided on clothes she thought would turn Merrick's head and she cleaned up her room. Shego thought about heading out on the town to prowl around a bit and maybe stop on the rooftop she fell of of, just to see what Merrick was like when she wasn't around. She thought better of checking in on Merrick because she be stalking him if she did. That would be so wrong of her to do but she was curious to see if he was different without her being around.

Shego ended up slipping out of the tower to prowl around the city and she ended up on the rooftop she made up in her mind not to go to. She was knelt down on the ledge of the rooftop and she was peering at Merrick's home with binoculars. Shego hadn't seen Merrick anywhere in the house until she saw him sitting in a couch that Shego guess was in the living room of the house.

He was sitting there eating popcorn while he used a remote to flip through channels that was on the TV across the room from him. Shego watched him for several minutes and she never saw anyone else in the house. It was as if he was alone but Shego saw him say something. Shego was curious about this and she wondered if he was really alone or talking to himself.

Shego sighed a relief when she saw a Jack Russel terrier jumped up in Merrick's lap. Shego giggled for no reason at seeing Merrick petting the dog and feeding it popcorn. Shego felt better at seeing Merrick acting like he did alone with out her being around, she knew then he was different. Instead of being out of the house on a Friday night, he was sitting at home alone with only a dog for company.

Well, at least I don't have to worry about you prowling around the city looking for another date, Shego thought while she continued to watch Merrick.

Shego looked at him through the binoculars one last time then she left the rooftop. She didn't feel like prowling the city anymore because she got the answer she wanted and she had no other reason to be out in the city that night. She felt bad about what she just done but if she seen him acting different then she wouldn't feel guilty about not showing up tomorrow for their date. A date she was looking forward to now since Merrick was perfect to her, maybe a little too perfect. She would find a flaw in him somewhere that she hoped didn't change her view of him.

Shego went back home and slept happy over seeing Merrick being who he acted like he was. He wasn't a lie and was truly different than the other guys in her school. She knew she was falling for him without even going on a real date with him yet. Still he might be a blessing and curse at the same time. Shego had fun on their simple date and it caused her to ask him out but she knew the creepy guy at school would haggle them day and night over them dating.

She was going to look the other way for now and try not to let what Duncan say bother her but if he persist she would put a stop to him herself. She had the one thing she asked for and no person was going to change her mind about Merrick nor could anyone tell her he was like all the other guys. Her brothers would cause the most static over dating because they were overprotective of her and Mego already proved they would like to meet Merrick.

He would get his chance the next day of school if the real date went well. Shego was going let Mego meet Merrick and she hoped they would get along but for some reason she doubt Mego would be ok with her dating. He would get jealous over Shego dating while he couldn't get a date and would bug her just as much as Duncan has.

Mego wouldn't spread rumors because she was his sister but he would quibble over her dating. Shego hoped if Mego did say something to Merrick, it wouldn't cause Merrick to lose his temper. That would then cause Merrick to get in a fight with Mego and it wouldn't help with her other brothers while she was dating Merrick.

They all would try to keep her from dating Merrick then and they would bug her to death over not seeing him again. She would eventually listen to them because of the nagging if she hadn't already seen the real Merrick. Merrick was respectful, sweet, cute when embarrassed, and mature all rolled up in one guy and Shego liked that about him. Far as she knew, he was the first guy to make her go from angry to happy in seconds and that was strange to her. He wasn't even trying to change her mood but he did and still held a conversation like there was nothing wrong.

Shego dreamed the rest of the night about how Merrick was and sighed happily when she woke the next morning. The day was an important day that could change her life and she hoped it would. She spent most of the day in her room, looking over her clothes again. She finally decided the clothes she picked out the night before was the best for what her and Merrick were going to do that night.

They were going to go dance after their dinner. Shego giggled at the thought of a Texan like Merrick dancing like she does and she wondered if he could dance like her. She was going to embarrass him if he couldn't and she hoped she did embarrass him. He was cute when he was embarrassed.

Shego made her way to Merrick's home during the time she set for their date and when she neared his home, she saw Merrick was already outside the home waiting for her to show while he sat on the top step. He wasn't alone because the dog she saw from the night before was laying on the top step beside him.

The second Merrick saw Shego nearing him, he stood up and the dog sat on its hunches. Shego had to keep herself from laughing at Merrick and the dog both showing her respect. It was too cute, even the dog was like Merrick. She wondered if how Merrick was rubbed off onto people around him. Shego continued to walk toward Merrick while he stared at her. She stopped when she got to him and she stood on the sidewalk while she looked up at Merrick with a smile.

"So, whose the dog," Shego question while she wondered if Merrick and the dog were the only ones that stayed at home.

Merrick and the dog were the only ones she saw at the house so far but she knew his dad stayed there too. Just he was never there it seemed and Merrick stayed there alone most of the time. Well, he had the dog for company.

"Oh, this is Jake. He's my buddy, only friend I got around here besides you," Merrick said with a sad smile while he turned and let Jake back into the house.

"I'm sure you'll make more friends at school," Shego said softly while Merrick walked down the steps to her.

"Kinda doubt that. So what we going to do tonight," Merrick said sadly but then with excitement over trying to find out what they were going to go do on their date.

Shego was surprised how quick Merrick could change his mood. It was like he was changing how he acted and felt just for her. It was another mark to his record Shego was keeping tabs on and she wondered if the list would stop growing.

"Oh, we're going to go to a place I know that let's people our age in so we can dance," Shego said with a smile that turned to a frown because of the look Merrick gave her.

"What's wrong, don't like to dance," Shego then had to ask because of Merrick's look.

"It's not that. I can't dance, I can't even do a simple two step," Merrick said while he shook his head and a frighten look etched across his face.

Shego giggled at him being nervous and at how cute he was acting. Shego sighed lightly and added another mark to her list. Any more and Shego might tell him right out she might be in love with him. Shego had to compose herself and she smiled at him trying to comfort his thoughts and nerves.

"Just relax, you'll do fine. I'll teach you, got all night to learn you how to dance," Shego said with a smile while she grabbed Merrick hand and started leading him to a restaurant she knew.

Their dinner was like their first, small talk about things that others would never talk about on their first date. Course this was their second date and Shego learned alot about Merrick. He had opened up to her and told her about his family and friends he had from where he moved from. He stopped talking about his family when he was telling Shego about his mom and sister. Shego was curious about why he stopped so quickly when he started telling her about his mom and sister and she had to ask about them in a hope he would continue to tell about them.

"So where's your mom and sister now," Shego question with earnest, hoping he would continue to be open about his past.

Merrick, however, said sadly, "I'm sorry Sheila. Its something I don't like to talk about. Maybe when we spend more time together I will tell you about it. If I told you about it now, it would ruin our date."

Shego took his statement to heart because she knew why he didn't want to continue to talk about his mom and sister. She nodded to him and changed the subject. Shego picked at him for not knowing how to dance. This caused Merrick to change his sad face to one of embarrassment and he chuckled. Shego even laughed while she continue to joke about him not knowing how to dance and she told him, he would learn how after they were finished with their dinner.

When Shego told Merrick that, he stopped eating and played with his food. Shego just shook her head and smiled at him because she knew he was trying delay what they were going to do next. She was going to get him to dance with her if she had to fireman carry him to where they were going next. But she didn't have to because when they were finished with they dinner, Merrick willingly let Shego led him by the hand to the club she knew.

After they paid their way into the club, Shego led Merrick right out onto the dance floor while he looked amazed and scared at the look of the place. While the music was playing, Shego started dancing and Merrick just looked at her then around him. Shego stopped dancing and laughed at Merrick while she tried to get him to follow along with her. He did try to match Shego's dancing but after a minute he gave up and started to walk to a empty table. Shego grabbed him by the hand and turned him to look at her while she waved at finger in front of her. Merrick slummed his shoulder and nodded to her then he tried to dance with Shego again.

Merrick wasn't a good dancer because he would step on Shego's feet but Shego was being patient with him. The patience finally paid off because after an hour of Merrick dancing for the first time, he caught on and became a descent dancer. They then danced the night away until they were the only ones left at the club. The dance Shego enjoyed the most was the slow dance and it seemed Merrick was most comfortable with the slow dancing.

After the club made them leave, Shego and Merrick decided it was time to call it the night and they headed back to Merrick's home. Along the way they talked more and Shego learned even more about Merrick. She could tell he was enjoying himself while they walked along the empty sidewalk. He would laugh and joke about silly things and Shego would laugh at all the silliness.

A few times while they walked they bumped into one another and Merrick would accuse Shego of wanting to hold his hand. Shego would laugh at being accused of trying such a thing but before they got to Merrick's home, they bumped into one another again and Merrick accused her again of wanting to hold his hand. This time Shego smiled at him and grabbed him by the hand. Merrick stopped walking because this surprised him and he smiled at Shego for a second before he continued to walk while they held hands.

When they got to Merrick's home, he let go of Shego's hand and looked at her in the eyes. They held that stare for a minute while Merrick cocked his head to one side and smiled at Shego. She smiled back and was surprised by what Merrick asked her.

"You want me to kiss you, don't you," Merrick said while he continued to look into Shego's eyes.

Shego blushed at the question because she wanted him to but she wasn't about to tell him.

Merrick noticed she blushed from his question and said, "I'm sorry. I don't do that on the first date."

Shego's shoulders dropped and a disappointed look came across her face. She nodded to Merrick and started to leave him there while she begun to feel sad.

This wasn't our first date, this was our second date, Shego thought sadly while she started to walk by Merrick.

She now wasn't sure if Merrick really liked her as much as she thought. As Shego was walking by Merrick, she could have sworn she heard him mumble under his breathe, "That was a mistake," and before she knew what happened she felt Merrick grabbed her by the hand.

Merrick spun her around on the heels of her feet and looked at her in the eyes for a second. He smiled at her and placed his free hand on her cheek and stepped closer to her while she held her breathe. He smiled at her again then kissed her. Shego was surprised by what Merrick just done but she closed her eyes while Merrick kissed her. It felt like electricity shot through Shego when her lips met Merrick's. She was enjoying the kiss and hoped it didn't end but it did after a minute. Merrick stepped back from her after the kiss and smiled at her again. Shego was speechless and just stared at him. She felt dizzy because of the kiss but she enjoyed it.

Merrick chuckled at her look and said, "See you at school Monday if something doesn't come up."

Shego couldn't say anything while she watched Merrick walk up the steps and head into the home. She shook her head when she got her senses back and she laughed happily. Shego actually skipped a little while she left Merrick's home to go home herself. She felt truly happy about dating Merrick now. He was perfect and she hoped he stayed perfect.

After Shego was back at the tower, she prowled around in the tower because she couldn't sleep. She was so excited over what happened that night. Her world has changed in so short of a time span because of a guy that showed up out of nowhere. She had falling for him without him even trying to make her like him. She knew she was starting to love him because she wouldn't have asked him out and wouldn't have let him kiss her if she wasn't starting to love him. Shego was curious if he felt the same way then Shego realized she didn't tell him her secret. She was having too much fun and it slipped her mind.

Shego then sighed sadly at the thought of Merrick running away from her. They were getting close and her being different than normal people might crash a good thing that was going on between them. She knew she had to tell him and she was going to the next time they were alone. Shego finally went to bed while feeling sad over Merrick not wanting to be around her after she tells him her secret.

During the next day of school, Shego didn't see Merrick anywhere even when she usually saw him before her last class. Shego then wondered if he was avoiding her but for some reason she doubted he would want to stay away from her. They had a great time on their last date and he was the one that said he wasn't going to kiss her but he did anyways.

Shego waited in the hall after school and still she didn't see Merrick. She sighed at the thought of him moving again and that worried her. He was the perfect guy for her and it would truly depress her if he had to move again. Shego looked up and down the hall for a minute then she opened her locker to get rid of books she didn't need.

Right as she opened the locker door, a folded up note fell out of the locker and landed on the tile floor at her feet. She squinted her eyes at the note for a second and moaned in annoyance. She had got letters like that one before and it was always from the creepy guy. Shego wasn't about to pick it up until she saw the name Merrick written on it. In an instance, Shego reached down and snatched the note off the floor. She opened the letter as quickly as she could and stood there in the hall while she read the letter.

Sheila,

Sorry about me not being at school today. I'm having dad run me by the school because I told him I needed some books to do homework. Which is true but I wanted to leave you this letter too. Dad and me are going to head back to where I'm from for a few days. We left things there that we need now and we're going to go get them. We should be gone only for a few days, maybe be back before the week's over. I'm not sure what else I can say, I wanted to talk to you about our last date when I saw you at school. I really enjoyed it and I was going to see if you wanted to go back out sometime. I guess I find out the answer to that question after I get back.

Merrick

Shego stood there and smiled after she read the letter. She was so worried about not seeing Merrick at school and even thought he was avoiding her. He just admitted in the note he enjoyed their date and wanted to go back out again. Shego was hoping he wanted to and she felt better about Merrick being gone for a few days instead of her thinking he was still around. At least he wasn't avoiding her like she thought he was doing.

Shego folded the note up and slid it in her pocket while she left the school. She was starting to consider Merrick her boyfriend while it still wasn't offical. They were just friends dating that kissed because it was expected but the kiss made Merrick her boyfriend because of the way she felt during the kiss. She wondered if Merrick felt something also, he had to if he wanted to go out with her again.

Shego ignored Duncan while she left the school and headed home. He asked her something but he was nothing to her and she wanted him to leave her alone. She had Merrick in her life now and she wished Duncan should stop asking her out. But she knew he would continue to even if Merrick pounded his face in everyday.

Shego spent the next three days waiting for Merrick to return but everyday she didn't see him at school. She ended up prowling the city and checked in on Merrick's home those three days. The house looked deserted and Shego was starting to miss Merrick. She couldn't understand how one man could change how she acted and she wondered if she changed Merrick in some small way. She learned him how to dance which was a major change in him and she noticed he talked more during their second date. Shego became disappointed after she came home from prowling the city the third day. She was missing Merrick and wanted to see him again. It was nearly a week since she last saw him.

Shego was walking into the school the morning of last day of school for that week and she stopped at the door when she heard loud mufflers of a new four door pick-up truck pulling into the school parking lot. She turned and watched the truck because she never seen it before now. Shego could tell it wasn't a vehicle driven around in the city and she was curious who was driving it until she saw a name in sticker on the windshield of the truck. She giggled at know who was driving the truck and she felt happy about him finally returning so she could find out how he felt about her.

When Merrick hopped out of the truck, Shego laughed at him wearing a white cowboy hat because he looked cute wearing it but she started growling with anger over seeing several guys in the parking lot were heading toward him. Merrick saw them too and reached into his truck for something. He pulled out a Louisville slugger baseball bat and held it in his hands while the guys neared him. The guys stopped when they saw the ballbat and looked at one another. Merrick, however, was patting the ballbat in the palm of his hand and was smiling at the guys. He said something to them while he pointed the ballbat at them and they started to back away from Merrick. The only one that didn't back down from Merrick was Duncan and Merrick walked toward Duncan while he held the ballbat with both of him hands.

Duncan finally backed away from Merrick and took off running toward the school with the other guys with him. Merrick stood where he was for a minute then went back to his truck. He tossed the ballbat and his hat into the truck and pulled out a bookbag. He then turned and started walking to the school and Shego stood where she was and waited on him at the front door. When he neared her, he stopped walking and smiled at her. She smiled back and Merrick continued to walk to her.

"Didn't know you had a vehicle," Shego said when Merrick got to her.

"Yeah, was one the things I left where I came from," Merrick said while they started into the school.

"I think a car would have been better in the city though, you'll stand out with that truck," Shego said with a laugh while they passed the front office of the school.

"Oh, I got a car too but I'm having my uncle sell it back where I'm from. I can't drive two vehicles and it be hard to park three on the street at home," Merrick said while they headed to Shego's locker.

"I see," was all Shego said while she started opening her locker.

"Umm, did you get my letter," Merrick asked while he pulled his bookbag off his shoulder and sat it on the floor while he fooled around in it.

"Yes, and to answer the question you want to ask. I like to go out again sometime," Shego said while she peeked over her shoulder at Merrick and saw he was pulling out a folded up note.

"Great, I was hoping you would. How about tonight," Merrick said with excitement while he handed Shego the letter.

Shego took the letter and looked at it while she said, "Sure. How about I meet you at your home around seven?"

"Ok, not sure what we'll get into, maybe ride around the city and catch a movie. Do you want me to give you a ride home after school," Merrick said while he slung his bookbag on his shoulder.

"Sure," Shego said while Merrick started to leave her in the hall.

Merrick stopped and smiled at her then headed on to where ever he was going while he had a skip in his step. Shego watched him go out of sight into a classroom then she opened the letter up and read it while she walked to her class.

Sheila,

Just writing you another letter. I'm not sure if you like getting them. If you don't then tell me and I won't write you another one. I'm writing this one because I'm sitting here being bored while I'm thinking about you. Kinda lonely at this farm house we use to live in. Dad's gone to visit some of his friends while I stay here and try to find something to do. Nothing exciting has happened except when I had an incident yesterday. Ran into the girl I told you about. She felt sorry over dumping me and wanted to know if we could get back together. She was crying up a storm. I admit I felt sorry for her. She stayed at the house over an hour trying to get me to agree to go out on a date with her last night. I told her several times I was dating you and you're wonderful to be around. This girl got angry over me dating someone new. She had a fit and I politely asked her to leave. She called you some vile names which ticked me off. I didn't scream at her but she got the point with what I told her that she was wrong for saying the things she said about you. She left and I felt better about telling her what I had to say. Its odd how I feel about you, well not odd because I like how I feel about you. I'm worried sick over how you feel about me. I think about you all the time and I wonder if you do the same. I never say how I really feel in person because I'm just that way but in letters I can. I'm still sorry I wasn't there at school. I wanted to talk to you because of how well I thought our second date went but I had to leave before I could. I'm worried that your mad about me not being there and would stop dating me. If that happens I guess it be for the better before we got too close. Still I would like to be close to you. You were the first person I met when I came to the city. Even if we're never anything but friends. Though the way your making me feel, I like to be more than friends.

Merrick

Shego lowered the letter to her side and sighed happily while she stood outside the classroom she suppose to be sitting in by now. Merrick had just answered the the questions Shego been asking herself. Did he like her or was he just there to have a good time. Shego folded up the letter and slid it in her pocket while she went into the class room. While she walked into the room, she had a bounce in her walk and she was smiling ear to ear. The other students looked confused at how Shego was acting because this was unlike her. It even unnerved them.

Shego didn't pay them any attention while she sat at her desk. She was going out again with a guy who was perfect to her and liked her. He didn't admit it in person but the letter she had in her pocket told her he did. They were going out again and this time Shego was going to tell him her secret and she hoped he be ok with her being more different than he was. For some reason Shego was beginning to feel like he wouldn't run away but instead he would be ok with her secret and still date her. Tonight would prove if she was right until then she was going to be worried over how Merrick would react.

Shego met Merrick out in the parking lot after school and climbed up in the truck after Merrick unlocked the doors. She sat there and looked around in his truck while Merrick was getting in the truck. She spotted a CD folder filled with CDs and she asked Merrick could she look at them while he started to crank the truck. He said she could and he started driving out of the parking lot while Shego flipped through the CDs.

She shook her head at the CDs because she wouldn't ever listen to the music Merrick listened to and Merrick noticed her being displeased at his music. He chuckled at how she looked while he steered through traffic. People in cars, that Merrick passed, looked at his truck with disgust because it wasn't a city vehicle. Merrick wasn't paying them any attention while he continued to laugh at Shego disliking his taste in music.

"Do you really listen to this stuff," Shego finally spoke up and asked.

Merrick chuckled at the question and said, "Hey, country music was all I could get on the radio where I'm from. So I grew up listening to it."

"Well, I'm going to see if I can't introduce you to the kind of music I listen to. You may like it," Shego said with a laugh while she finally picked out a CD and slide it into the CD player.

The first song that started playing Shego liked for some reason but she wasn't about to admit to Merrick she liked it. She could tell it was a love song and she stared at Merrick while it played. Merrick glanced back at Shego one time during the song and smiled at her. She smiled back at him and she decided if they were going to date more often and become an item, the song they were listening to would be their song. By the time all the songs on the CD finally played, Merrick had driven Shego to where she went down into the subway entrance. She told him to stop on the side of the street and she would walk the rest of the way.

Merrick looked around and asked where her home was. While Shego was standing on the sidewalk, she pointed through the open door past Merrick. Merrick turned his head and saw the Go Tower standing on the island that was out in the middle of the river. He turned his head back to Shego with a surprised look on his face.

"You mean your home is that building. Wow, your lucky," Merrick said with excitement while he turned his head back to the tower.

"Not really, I got to put up with my brothers," Shego said flatly while she pulled her bookbag out of the truck.

"You got brothers. Umm, their ok with you dating," Merrick said while he looked scared over knowing Shego had brothers.

"Nope, they actually don't want me to date. I'm the only sister and they all are overprotective since mom and dad been gone. Think I will end up dating the wrong guy or something," Shego said with a smirk on her face because she knew she was starting to date the right guy. She hoped so, anyways.

"Oh, well I hope I can prove to them I'm worthy of you dating," Merrick said sadly.

"You don't have to prove anything to them. Only have to prove your worth dating to me and if you weren't we wouldn't be going out tonight," Shego said with a smile while she shut the truck door.

Merrick watched her with a surprised look while she crossed in front of his truck and head to the subway entrance. When Shego was out of sight, he put the truck in gear and headed home to get ready for his date with Shego.

After Shego was back in the tower, she paced the tower and walked into places she hadn't been in months. She was becoming a nervous wreck and she had to stop herself from biting her nails. The thought of revealing her powers to Merrick was the cause of her being in a panic. He was the first person outside her family that knew she was crime fighter. Her identity being found out wasn't the problem, it was how Merrick would react to her hands glowing.

Please be ok with it. Please be ok with it, Shego thought many times while she walked around the tower.

The closer it got to her date time the more worried she got, the worrying turn to panicking. Shego threw on the first clothes she got to and headed out, while her nerves became shot. As Shego neared Merrick's home, her hands were actually shaking and she fought to get them under control. She saw Merrick was again sitting on the top step while he waited for her and he again stood up when he saw Shego. The only thing different this time was his dog was not beside him but was looking out of the living room window at them. When Shego was standing at the bottom of the stairs, she saw Merrick squint his eyes at her.

There was a lull of silence for a second then Merrick asked, "What's wrong?"

Shego was so scared to reveal her secret that it showed on her face and she didn't realize it. She shook her head to answer Merrick's question but he still looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"Well ok, if you say nothing wrong I believe ya. We have to get fast food for our dinner tonight if we are to catch a movie later," Merrick said while he started down the stairs.

Shego nodded to him and went to get in the passenger side of his truck. Merrick stood where he was and looked at Shego. He shook his head at trying to figure out what was wrong with Shego. He then climbed into the truck and cranked the truck up then headed onto their date. Shego didn't say a word while they where driving down the streets and she didn't make a sound at Merrick asking her what she wanted while they sat in the drive thru of the fast food place.

Shego finally started talking while they sat in the movie theater's parking lot and enjoyed the food Merrick got at the fast food place. She talked about things other than what she wanted to reveal to Merrick. Merrick felt better about her talking and tried to act nothing was wrong. Shego knew he wanted to know why she acted like she did earlier but she was going to wait until the time was right to tell him. She admired him for not pressuring her into telling him and she started to feel better. When they finished eating, they went in the theater and watched a movie Shego picked out.

After the movie Merrick asked Shego did she want to go riding around for awhile since the night was still young. Shego took him on the offer and they cruised the city for awhile and ended up going out of the city. They traveled down many neglected back roads and along the way they talked about their worst fears. Shego laughed at Merrick hating to make speeches in front of a lot of people and Merrick laughed at Shego for being scared of lightning. They ended up out on some dirt road and Merrick pulled the truck out into a field by the road.

When Merrick turned the truck off, he said, "This is what I enjoyed back home," while he lended forward and peered up at the twinkling stars.

"Yeah you don't get to see them in the city," Shego said while she felt it was time to tell Merrick her secret.

There was silence in the truck for several minutes and Shego heard Merrick sigh softly.

"What's wrong," Shego then asked Merrick and Merrick chuckled at the question.

"I was about to ask you the same thing. Your being quiet for some reason," Merrick said while he turned the radio on and started to flip through the radio stations.

"Well, Alex, I want to be completely honest with you. There's something about me that makes me different than other girls you could date. Let's just say comparing me and you, your normal, " Shego said in a sad nervous tone.

"Alex," Merrick questioned while he looked at Shego for a second.

Shego let out a nervous laugh and said, "Merrick is too long of a name to say so I thought about calling you Alex."

"Oh, really don't like it but you can if you want. Now what you want to tell me," Merrick said with sympathy while he fooled with the radio again.

Shego sighed and said sadly, "Well, Alex, I want to tell you but I'm afraid I would run you off by it."

Merrick stopped what he was doing and turned on the over head light. He looked Shego right in the eyes and showed her a sad smile.

"Sheila, you can tell me anything, what ever you want to tell me, tell me. But if you want to wait on telling me, by all means wait. You won't run me off that easily. There's not much I'm scared of," Merrick said while he continued to look Shego in the eyes.

Shego sighed at his statement because she wasn't sure if all of what he said was true. She wanted to be honest but she was afraid of scaring the one perfect guy she wanted to keep dating. She knew it was time to find out how true Merrick really was and she looked away from Merrick. Shego flamed up her hands and the inside of the truck was lit up in the green glow. She didn't dare to look at the face Merrick was making because she figured it was one of pure fright. Shego, however, was surprised to hear Merrick chuckling and she turned her head and looked at his smiling face that was lit up by her green glow.

"Your not scared of a girl who can make her hands grow," Shego asked with surprise while she started to feel nervous over his answer.

Merrick shook his head and looked at her hands while he chuckled again. Shego unlit her hands and covered her face in her hands then she started to wept. It wasn't tears of sadness but of joy. She was being nervous over nothing and she should have known better than worry over what Merrick would think. He was different and if he wasn't ok with her hands glowing, no one else would.

At the sound of Shego crying, Merrick asked softly, "Are you ok?"

Shego uncovered her face and said with a smile on her face, "I'm just happy. I hoped and prayed for many years for a guy like you and now I have you."

"I have prayed for a girl like you, Sheila. Except the glowing hands part but that was cool. Do it again," Merrick said in a soft excited tone.

Shego laughed at Merrick wanting her to flame her hands again and she did, which bathed the inside of the truck again in a green glow. She kept them lit while she and Merrick talked. Shego was truly happy now and she could tell Merrick was too. He never showed a sad face while they talked and he would laugh at anything funny Shego told him about. She would do the same and they lost track of time while they sat there talking. While they talked, they set up another date for the next day and they agreed it was pointless for Shego to walk to Merrick's house when he could drive to where he stopped and let Shego out after school.

Finally after midnight, they decided it was time to go home. It took Merrick over an hour to find his was back to any blacktop roads then another hour to get back to a road that would get them back to the city. They didn't care, they were having the time of their life while they rode the back roads. Shego once even put Merrick's cowboy hat on which got a laugh out both of them. Merrick had to beg for his hat back because Shego said she was going to keep it but she laid it in the backseat from where she got it.

They finally arrived at the subway entrance, Shego used to get home, in the early morning. They sat there for several minutes in silence until Shego broke it by speaking.

"So do you consider us an item now," Shego asked while she looked at Merrick with a nervous stare.

"Yep," was all Merrick said while he turned his head at Shego and smiled at her.

Shego smiled at him and slid across the truck seat to sit right beside Merrick. Merrick smiled at her and laid his arm over her shoulders while he looked into her eyes. They held their stare for a second then Shego placed a hand on Merrick's face and pulled his face to her. She then kissed him and she felt the same feelings like their first kiss. She released the kiss after a minute then told Merrick she had to go and she slid back across the seat and opened the door. Before she got out of the truck, she reached back and took Merrick's hat. She placed it on her head while she shut the truck door and smiled at Merrick through the window. All Merrick did was shake his head and smile back at her. She waved goodbye to him and walked into the subway entrance. Merrick watched her leave with his hat on her head then he drove home with a smile on his face.

When Shego got back into the tower, she was on cloud nine. She was as happy as she's ever been in her life. Her and Merrick were going to continue to date and she was so relieved Merrick was ok with her secret. The only thing she didn't like was him calling her Shego because she was calling him Alex. She enjoyed him calling her by her real name but the name Shego wasn't a pet name. Shego knew she would have to think up a better pet name for Merrick besides Alex because he didn't like it. She would figure out a name before long he would like or she would give up and call him just Merrick.

Before Shego went to sleep, she laid out some clothes she thought was appropriate for their next date. Shego dreamed of Merrick again when she finally fell asleep. She had trouble falling asleep because she was so excited over having a man she considered perfect as her boyfriend.

Shego and Merrick's fouth date was like the others, they had fun and enjoyed it. They went to a put-put golf course because they felt like trying it out after they rode by the course. Merrick, however, thought they were to play like he seen on TV. On his very first tee off, Merrick stepped back then ran toward the golf ball and swung the club with all his might. The golf ball went sailing over the chain link fence that surrounded the course and luckily landed between vehicles that were in the parking lot beside the course.

The manager, that was running the course, hollered at Merrick and told Merrick, that wasn't the way he was to play put-put golf. This caused both Shego and Merrick to laugh at the manger and Merrick struck the second golf ball the same way he did the first. The manger saw this and escorted both Merrick and Shego out of the course. Merrick was banned from the course for a month or until he learned how to play put-put golf.

The teenagers resented the manger for doing this and Shego made faces behind the manger's back. Merrick couldn't stop laughing, while the manger was giving him a speech, because of the faces Shego was making. The man would turn to look at Shego right as Shego would stop making faces at him. He would turn to talk to Merrick again and Shego would continue to make the faces while Merrick would laugh at the faces.

Eventually, the man got tired of Merrick laughing for some reason and left the teenagers outside the course and the teens decided to go catch a movie. This time Merrick got to choose a movie which Shego didn't like but she knew it was Merrick's turn and she didn't complain. But she had to ask why Merrick chose the movie.

"Umm, you really like watching this," Shego asked while they watched the movie.

"Yeah, I grew up watching Talker, Arizona Special Cop," Merrick said with a smile.

"Ok, just it doesn't make sense that a guy could beat up guys twice his size. I mean they don't even try to hit him and they come after him one at a time," Shego said while she shook her head but decided to endure the movie for Merrick's stake.

"Well, I wish I could fight like him. I don't know any martial arts but I like to learn one someday," Merrick said with excitement while he reached over and held Shego's hand.

Shego looked at Merrick when he grabbed her hand and she saw he was looking back at her. Merrick let go of her hand because of the look on her face. Shego was frowning at the movie and not at Merrick wanting to hold her hand. She shook her head and smiled at Merrick then grabbed his hand. Merrick sighed happily and went back to watching the movie. Shego was happy too because she was afraid she just made a mistake by accident with the look she had. They were just starting to date and were learning one another. Shego just learned if she was displeased with something Merrick was doing, he would stop immediately.

She liked that and she knew Merrick was showing her respect again. She wished he wouldn't stand up for her when he saw her coming because people didn't do that anymore but Merrick was different. Shego enjoyed him being different and that was the first thing she noticed about him. He was different around her and different when she wasn't. If he wasn't different then she wouldn't be sitting beside him watching a movie she wished was over and she knew she would pick all the movies they watched from now on, unless Merrick started to choose better movies.

After the movie was over, Merrick asked Shego if she wanted to go riding around for awhile. Shego took him up on the offer and they ended up back at the field where Shego revealed her powers to Merrick. This time they sat on the tail gate of the truck while they held hands and looked at the stars while the truck radio played music Shego liked. They sat there for several minutes without saying a word while they enjoyed being together. Finally, Merrick spoke up while he turned his gaze from the stars to Shego.

"Sheila, I thought about trying out for the football team. I played football at my old school, figured I might try playing at Go City High," Merrick said with excitement.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Duncan trying out, would it," Shego questioned while she turned her look from the stars to Merrick.

Merrick chuckled and said, "Yep, told me yesterday I was too scare to try out."

"Alex, I wish you would ignore him. I have for a very long time, he's just trying to mess with you and I be careful of why he wants you to be where him and his buddies could get to you," Shego said sadly because she knew Duncan still wanted to settle a score with Merrick.

When Merrick heard Shego call him Alex, he let out a soft growl that he hoped Shego wouldn't hear but she heard him and she had to fight the laughter building in her. She was going to continue to call him Alex until he told her to stop or until she thought of a better pet name for him. After Merrick growled, he chuckled and shook his head at Shego.

"Sheila, Duncan doesn't scare me nor does his buddies. I might not have a ballbat with me during football practice but I know how to handle myself without one. I dealt with the Duncan types before and fought groups of guys too. I have gotten my tail kicked but they learned to leave me alone," Merrick said after he stopped shaking his head.

"I hope so or I end up letting the entire school know my hands can glow," Shego said with anger while she lit up her hands.

Merrick chuckled and said, "Sheila, your cute when your mad."

Shego stopped her hands from glowing after Merrick's statement and blushed at him saying she was acting cute. Far as she knew, Merrick was the first one that liked to see her mad. She wondered if she could scare him with some of the rampages she been known to throw. For some reason Shego doubted she could because she was starting to see Merrick wasn't scared of much, except speaking in front of a crowd. She hadn't seen him do that yet but for some reason she wanted to, because he was cute when he got nervous.

The teens didn't sit long outside of the truck because a rain storm came over where they were at and they jumped off the tail gate and ran to get in the truck. Merrick accidently locked the truck doors when he got out of the truck and they stood there in the rain while Merrick fumbled around in his pockets to find his spare keys. He finally found them but not until he and Shego were drenched from head to toe. After they got in the truck, Shego noticed Merrick was looking away from her and acted like he didn't want to look at Shego for some reason. She narrowed her eyes at him while she wondered why he continued to stare out the driver side window while the overhead light stayed on after they got in the truck.

"Umm, Alex, what's wrong," Shego questioned because she couldn't figure out what was the matter with Merrick.

Merrick pointed a finger at Shego while he continued to look out the window and he said, "Your shirt."

Shego looked down at her shirt and blushed because she saw why Merrick was looking away from her. She made a note to never wear a white shirt again on their dates if they were going to stand out in the rain and get drenched. She knew Merrick saw what she was seeing and she admired him for continuing to show her respect by looking away from her when she wasn't descent.

Shego looked around in the truck and saw Merrick had an old Toyah High School sweater in the back seat of the truck. She turned her look back to Merrick and asked him could she wear the sweater. Merrick said she could so he would be able to driver her home and she laughed at his statement. Shego wished she could see Merrick's face, she bet it was one of embarrassment and nervousness.

After she had the sweater on, she told Merrick he could turn his head now and when he saw Shego had his sweater on, he sighed a relief and cranked the truck. Shego was liking Merrick more with the way he acted around her and she knew if he kept up the way he was, she would continue to date him until they were in love.

At least he won't look at a woman, whose not descent, if she doesn't want him to. Yes, Alex, your truly different and because of that, your making me fall in love with you without you even trying to, Shego thought as they left the field and headed home.

After they arrived at the subway entrance, the teens sat in the truck while Shego snuggled up to Merrick. Her excuse was her being cold which was true but she wanted Merrick to hold her in his arms. She noticed Merrick tense up when she slid over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Shego had to kept herself from giggling because she knew he was uncomfortable at first for her doing this but she was enjoying it. Merrick finally relaxed after a few minutes and wrapped an arm around Shego's shoulders.

They held this embrace for a long time and they never spoke a word. Shego knew Merrick was feeling the same way about her like she was feeling about him. He wouldn't say it in person but Shego was planning to change that before long. Finally, Shego told Merrick in sad tone that she had to go and gave him a goodbye kiss. The kiss caused the same feelings she felt from before and she held the kiss longer than the other two.

Shego sighed when she released the kiss and she looked into Merrick's eyes. She felt love for him the second she looked into his eyes and she had to control her feelings. She wanted to scream she loved him but she knew it was too early to say that. They were getting close too fast but Shego was enjoying it. Shego hoped Merrick felt the same way and the only way for her to know was by telling him she love him, but she wouldn't for now. Maybe later she would but for now she had to get out of the truck before she said it too early.

She smiled at Merrick and slid back across the truck seat and got out of the truck. Shego smiled again at Merrick and waved bye to him while she started walking to the subway entrance. She laughed a joyful laugh after she heard Merrick crank his truck up and leave. Shego came back out of the entrance and watched the tail lights of his truck go out of sight.

When the red tail lights were seen no more, Shego whispered, "I love you," and she turned and went back into the entrance.