The Adventures of a Phineas and Ferb/KP Fan

207

Timing is Everything

The welcoming hot sun accompanied by a slight breeze on the water was a welcoming view to Shego as she walked out onto the small deck below the villa. It was the start of the new year and officially the last day on their private escape to the Maldives. While she knew she was going from ocean view to an ocean view at home, it was no where near as sunny and warm during this season.

She stretched in the sun and let out a deep sigh.

"Might have to bust out the sunlamp for the lab when we get back," stated Shego as she looked down into the water below where Drakken had decided to spend his morning swimming, "Are you going to continue this morning swim routine by the way?"

Drakken shrugged before making his way to the ladder.

"I may," he hummed as he climbed up on the dock, "Might make use of the swimming pool under my lab the henchmen made."

"Oh yeah, the Tiki Bar," snorted Shego as she moved aside from where Drakken was now dripping water, "I assume there was a very dramatically written email to the henchmen about it?"

"I'll wait until the next time the agitate me," said Drakken "Let them assume it's still unnoticed and they have gotten away with it."

Shego snickered as he moved towards her.

"False sense of security. Love it," she hummed and noticed Drakken's arm reaching to go around her waist, "Whoa there buddy, you are dripping wet."

Drakken took a step back and then towards the water and back to Shego.

"So..." he trailed off, "Perhaps I can persuade you for a swim then?"

Shego shook her head.

"My plan is to catch some rays before we have to leave... not undoing a salt wash on my hair," stated Shego firmly.

She looked over her sunglasses with a stern expression as she noted Drakken's expressionless look. She took a half step back as she saw the twitch in his lips as he looked at the water and then back to her again.

"Don't-" She barely got the words out before he'd lunged towards her, "Don't you dare!"

She'd moved to run up the stairs but it had only aided him on scooping her over his shoulder.

"You put me down right now, Drew Lipsky," Shego sputtered as Drakken stepped closer to the edge of the dock.

"Are you sure about that..." Drakken's laugh trailed off and he seemed to back step from the dock. He let out a sigh and Shego slid off his shoulder to stand next to him.

"That's what I-" Shego let out a scream as Drakken's arms wrapped around her waist and they both fell into the water.

She sputtered water as she popped out of the water. Glaring at the devious expression on Drakken's face as his arms were still around her waist.

"Really?" scoffed Shego.

Drakken's expression was playful but devious.

"You feel better now?" sighed Shego as he pulled her closer.

"To be fair... this could have been avoided if you'd just been okay with a little dampness," he offered, causing Shego to roll her eyes before wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Fine," said Shego as she leaned towards him.

As his eyes closed she smirked and shoved him under the water before swimming back towards the ladder laughing.

"Pfft, Shego!" he sputtered as he came from under the water and swam towards her.

"Could have been avoided if you hadn't closed your eyes," she countered as she pulled herself out of the water to climb up the ladder.

She glanced back just to feel Flower wrapping around her waist and she kept her grip on the ladder.

"Hey! Because of you I have to spend the next few hours drying my hair," scoffed Shego as she gave a halfhearted glare and the smirked as Flower appeared in her face, "I'm sure Flower wouldn't mind soaking in some rays instead of salt water."

"Well I want too- Flower, what are you doing?" snapped Drakken as Flower finished placing Shego on the dock.

Shego snorted as Flower unwrapped from her waist.

"I just love when your subconscious agrees with me," said Shego as she began squeezing excess water from her hair, "It's like a reminder of how often I'm right."

She couldn't fight the smirk on her face as she watched Drakken swat at Flower as he swam towards the ladder. She could hear him mock her words under his breath but it only made her feel even more smug as he clearly intended to join her.

"Fine, but I'm not going to ask you to swim in the secret Tiki Bar pool with me in the future," grumbled Drakken as he joined her on the dock.

Shego let out a snort as she flopped on the beach chair.

"Uhg, like I'd want to swim in the same water as swamp boy stewed in," stated Shego as she tossed the soaking wet shirt she'd been wearing over her swimsuit on the dock.

She watched as Drakken finished climbing onto the dock with a concerned looked on his face.

"Do you think I should blindly let the henchmen know to drain the reservoir or see what pans out in time?" asked Drakken as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"Might be fun to see if anyone sprouts gills," shrugged Shego. Drakken nodded and gave a shrug before sitting in the beach chair next to her.

"I do have some of the muck now so if need be I'm sure it can't be too hard to counter any effects." hummed Drakken.

"Sure, have a little mutation fun," said Shego as she waived her hand dismissively, "Worked out so well the last time, did it? I supposed among the massive floral mutant menaces, we could use a few fish monsters."

"I'm telling the flowers you called them menaces," stated Drakken.

"Humph, I call them that daily," smirked Shego, as she pulled her sunglasses over her eyes, "It's a term of endearment to them."

The two fell into idle chatter about mutations, plants, and eventually all the things they'd avoided discussing on their getaway. About an hour into it, Shego had noticed just how restless Drakken was getting thinking about the projects back home he'd not discussed since they'd arrived in the Maldives... so she may have suggested leaving early... and honestly she was eager to get home herself.

=

It was early evening when the two finally made their way to their Grecian lair. The warmth they'd left replaced by cold rain and heavy clouds. Drakken saw Shego shiver as the door to the vehicle entrance closed behind them. He'd opted to fly into the cliff opening to the interior garage nestled into the cliff instead of on the patio above like normal. It had been a plan to avoid to cold rain, but the parking area was no less cold than the outside. As the cover finally vanished into the walls of the hovercraft, they both began climbing out into the chilled air.

"Uhg, I miss the Maldives already," said Shego as she let out another shutter, "I think it's time to reinstate the indoor hottub."

"I think that would be the luxury tub and sauna you had installed in your room when we had to fix the plumbing," interjected Drakken.

Shego rolled her eyes.

"I mean the lab hot tub, genius," smirked Shego. Drakken felt his face grow warm at the distraction reminder.

"It took great determination to ignore the lab hot tub back then, I don't think I'd be able to have the same restraint and be able to get any work done," said Drakken. It only turned Shego's smirk more devious, "And I don't think our lovely staff would enjoy being attacked by Flower or your henchflowers."

They had finally reached the elevator, clearly both decided that the luggage could wait till later.

Her expression became teasing as the door closed behind them and her fingers began playing with his ponytail as she leaned closer to him.

"You are making a very good argument to get the hot tub installed," she snickered as he rolled his eyes at her comment, "But I wouldn't want to distract you from any grand work you might be doing."

"That would be a change," he smirked as she shoved him as the doors opened.

"For both of us, really," she shot him a smug smirk as she remained in the elevator as he stepped forward.

"Amusing... are you coming?" asked Drakken as he paused and waited for her to exit.

"I am going to take a nice hot shower," sighed Shego and then she gestured to behind Drakken, "I don't think that's happening here."

Drakken looked to see they had stopped at the lab's floor and he looked back at Shego.

"I didn't hit the lab button-"

"But Flower did," sighed Shego. Drakken looked over his shoulder as the pink foliage vanished.

He hadn't been aware Flower had even made an appearance, let alone that it had hit the lab button. While subconsciously he was very aware that he wanted to get to work and finish everything he'd abandoned for a rather extended holiday, but he looked at Shego's expression and waited for agitation to show on her face, but her teasing expression seemed... amused.

"Oh erm... it can wait-" Drakken attempted to step back to the elevator, but Shego had already hit the close door button.

"Have fun tinkering," she gave a slight wave before the doors closed.

There was a want to be annoyed at the doors closing on him, but he found himself hastily moving down the stairs off the plateau and towards his desk. The lights turning on as he did so and it was a relief to see that the henchmen had gotten his memo and now his items seemed to be placed back into their proper spots and his chemical wall was... still color coordinated the way their swampy visitor had placed them.

A problem for another time.

Drakken let out a relieved sigh as he sat down at his desk and looked around at his table where his papers were now sorted properly and there was no residue or ick on the floors of his lab... nor misplaced furniture. He took a moment to look around before returning focus to his desk and opening the bottom drawer where the papers for the Mood Ring design he'd swiped... only to move it out of the way and with a glance up towards the elevator as he pulled out the black ring box he'd forgotten... the real reason for the impromptu holiday. He glared at the box and slumped against the palm of his hand to stare at it.

Flower came into view as if to look at the box as well.

"Well Flower, so much for planning a perfect romantic vacation proposal... forgot the main thing essential for a proposal," Drakken opened the box and looked at the ring inside. Flower nudged the box and Drakken rolled his eyes, "I am aware I could have proposed without the ring, but then it wouldn't have been perfect."

Drakken closed the box and placed it back in the drawer.

"I'm just glad she bought it that I fell off the dock when I had intended to propose," Drakken let out a loud sigh and leaned back in his chair.

He mused in thought as he looked at the vaulted ceiling of his lab, playing back every perfect time he could have proposed. He'd even debated flying back to get the ring while Shego slept... but that thought had been erased from his mind fairly quickly. He closed his eyes and tried to shift his focus on getting his work done now that he was home and not on his major flub on his holiday. He felt Flower nudge him and when he cracked an eye open, he saw Flower nod towards the elevator.

"I'm not about to do it right now," Drakken grumbled, "It's late and lame to simply ask her now."

"Ask me what?" came Shego's voice echoing through the lab.

Drakken yelped in surprise and tipped over the chair with a loud crash. Flower did nothing to stop his fall, nor the chair rolling away from him on it's side. He hastily moved to his knees to peer over his desk and look up to where Shego still stood on the landing outside the elevator with pursed lips and an annoyed expression.

"Shego!" he yelled and then cleared his throat as he went to stand but hit his knee on his drawer handle, "Yeow!"

"Been home less than an hour and already back to abusing the chair," sighed Shego. Drakken frowned at her, "If you want an office chair that is meant to lean then get one."

"I am perfectly happy with my chair," Drakken scoffed. He looked at how the back of it looked bent, "It just needs some repair since our slimy house guest messed with it."

"Whatever," Shego waved her hand dismissively, "What did you want to ask me?"

Drakken's frown faded and he tried not to look panicked as he came up with something. His eyes fell to the drawer where the ring was and the reclaimed files for the ring.

"Er, uh... if you wanted to ohm," he sputtered and looked up at a confused Shego. He heard Flower open the drawer and in horror pull out the ring box.

Drakken snatched it from Flower in hopes Shego didn't notice from the far distance.

"Is that the ring box?" asked Shego. Drakken felt all the blood leave his face as he hand froze shoving the box back in the drawer.

"You- When-" Drakken was cut off.

"Doy, I use you're desk," Shego snorted, as she walked down the steps of the platform clearly headed towards him, "If you need help with the mood ring thing, you can just ask."

"The mood-" Drakken looked at the box and then the items in the drawer, "Yes! The mood ring box!"

He grinned perhaps far too earnestly as he saw Shego's brow raise in question before she gave an eye roll as she stopped in front of his desk.

"I mean... yes, I could use your assistance," Drakken lied and closed the box back in the drawer and swatted Flower away.

"I'll think about it," she yawned, "It wont be right now, it's late and I only came down here to grab my nail file."

She held out her hand and he looked around his desk before she nodded down. He hastily opened the top drawer to see several files tossed with his many broken and chewed pens. He pulled one out and it was swiftly snatched from his grasp.

"Perhaps you should take a few to keep upstairs," he suggested. Shego was mid turn before glancing at him in question.

"Why?" she asked and then looked from him to the desk again, "Are you hiding something?"

"No," Drakken said far too loudly, "I merely meant we should have some in one of the bathrooms and not just the lab."

Her eyes narrowed and she looked him up and down as if reading him before finally turning back towards the stairs.

"If I put them upstairs than I don't have an excuse to come down to the lab," she looked over her shoulder, "I mean we already scraped the idea of a hot tub-"

"Forget I mentioned it," said Drakken as he closed the drawer.

She gave a devious smirk as she headed towards the stairs.

"Great, I'll talk to the henchmen about the hot tub tomorrow than-"

"No hot tub in the lab," Drakken sputtered.

"I'm sorry I can't hear you from here," called out Shego from the top of the platform, "Elevator's too loud."

"Shego, you know you can hear me-"

"Huh?" she called out as the doors opened, "We should get a new heating lamp, too?"

"Shego-"

"Night," she called back as the doors closed.

Drakken rolled his eyes and flopped back into his chair. He debated going after her to argue about her pretending not to hear him, but instead he resided to get some work done. He let out a loud sigh and leaned back in his chair only for the back to fall off and he to hit the ground hard. Flower hovered over him as he hissed in pain.

"Ow," Drakken groaned.

=

The chilly damp weather carried over to the morning and Shego thought of the tropical private getaway they'd been at less than a day ago. She tired to imagine it over the cold rain splattering the darkened skies and loud splashing of the waves below the lair. With a forlorn sigh she closed the blinds of her bedroom and grabbed her gloves off the now clean side table. It turned out to be a perfect day to assist Drakken in the lab as she wasn't exactly able to go anywhere or even linger outside. Besides the lair was obscenely noisy for the hour, it turned out that despite the terrible weather they'd been missing the last few days, the henchmen had gotten her mobile mansion back on its cliff side and had began renovating it once again to remove any missed vintage security. Which meant they'd been using a recently installed stairwell that ran-along just beside her room location on the cliff. She'd half wanted to fire a blast towards them to end the constant metal stair sounds outside her room, but they were already fighting the elements.

"They are lucky I am in a good mood," hummed Shego to herself as she left her room. She glanced towards the door of Drakken's room and shook her head as she headed down the stairs.

She'd slept in there but when she'd woken up in the early hours, he'd yet to return. Which meant he was on a sleep deprived hyper-focus or he was asleep at his desk. Either way, she was headed to the lab. As she made her way down the hallway she paused as she heard vacuuming and looked to see Hector doing his routing cleaning of the upstairs. She back-stepped and smirked as a thought occurred to her.

"Hector," stated Shego. She watched the henchmen drop the vacuum and then hastily grab it to turn it off.

"Yes?" he hastily answered, "How can I help you?"

"When you have a moment, can you bring my heating lamp out of storage and into the lab," said Shego. She watched Hector's face fall slightly, "Preferably this afternoon."

"I- ohm... so," Hector looked towards the elevator and to the outside, "Well, there's only one... but I can see if we can get one ordered."

Shego raised a brow.

"I know there is only one..." Shego followed his eyes towards the outside and looked through the kitchen to the patio, "Is my heating lamp at sea or-"

"No," said Hector, "Dr. Drakken had Lucius and Mitchell bring it outside under the canopy to keep the flowers warm... per your request."

Shego looked back at Hector and clicked her tongue before heading towards the elevator.

"Thank you, Hector," stated Shego as she pushed the button.

Well played Drew. Well played.

Shego rolled her eyes as she pushed the button to the elevator.

"Ohm, did you want us to take it back-"

"No," said Shego. She was about to step into the elevator before she had an idea, "Actually Hector, there is something Drakken asked me to take care of that you might be able to take care of for us."

Shego ignored Hector's uneasy expression and continued on with her instructions.

=

Drakken hummed happily as he looked at the instructions as he attempted the fuse a rather small wire to a component... again. He had discarded several pieces in his attempt to master it before moving onto the actual ring... and he was trying yet again.

It did not work.

"Gahk!" yelled Drakken as he tossed it again.

"Do you need a hand?"

Drakken yelled as Shego's voice came from behind him. He glared as he turned to look at her and then to her ungloved hands. She wiggled her fingers with a green glow.

"Why, yes I do," his glare melted into a grin as her book was tossed on a side table as she slid her chair over the the desk, "Look at you, volunteering to help work on a project."

Shego paused rolling the chair.

"Do you want me rescind my offer?" asked Shego, "Because I can just go back to reading my book upstairs while enjoying my patio heating lamp."

Drakken fought the smirk that wanted to spread across his face as Shego sat down.

"I will take your offer," said Drakken.

"That's what I thought," scoffed Shego as Drakken handed her goggles.

"But I'm not bringing the heating lamp back down here," Drakken continued. Shego gave him a stern look, "It's too distracting."

"You enjoy the distractions," smirked Shego as pinched his cheek.

Drakken flushed.

"I meant to you," continued Drakken. Shego glared, "I've already admitted it doesn't allow me to get much work done- but it just erases your work ethic."

Shego rolled her eyes but she didn't continue the banter, simply yanked his goggles further down his face.

"Just tell me where to fire," smirked Shego, Drakken answered by tapping the area with the soldering pin.

"Thank you for assisting me," said Drakken after a silent minute, "Instead of reading... What's that book?"

He glanced over at the black covered book she'd tossed on the side-table.

"Monarch," said Shego.

Drakken raised his brow, not that she could see... but he'd seen that book over a year ago.

"Are you reading it again... or have you just not finished it?" he asked.

"Again," stated Shego, "Hey, move your fingers."

Drakken moved his hand away as Shego set another small wire.

"Is it any good?" asked Drakken.

"Yeah," replied Shego, "It's about how one small change can effect everything... like altering time, something insignificant that wouldn't seem important can shape how the big picture will be... I've read it a couple of times..."

Shego paused in thought as if she was thinking about it.

"I think I started reading it around the time you and the rest of the three stooges started working together," teased Shego, "It's... interesting. It's got dual symbolism; how everything someone does effects all even if they will never know and the whole Monarch is a symbols of change for both the good and the bad- Kinda like what we're doing right now."

"How so?" asked Drakken as he grabbed more solder.

"If you hadn't made that horrid music video... we would have never met the alien dunderheads... and almost ended the planet," Shego began. Drakken frowned but she continued, "But, it changed the whole picture... no longer a villain, massive respect, your hands on projects that typically you would have had me steal and access to resources for your own creations that we're hard to come by."

"Hmm... I supposed your right," smiled Drakken, "Perhaps I should re-visit my musical career-"

"I supposed if we ever needed funds again, your whole fanbase of Dean and twelve other people would buy that album," snickered Shego.

Drakken rolled his eyes.

"Duff would buy one too," stated Drakken firmly.

"Hah, the same man who was helping Adrena play paparazzi for what a couple hundred from Villain's Weekly?"

"Hmm, you're right... he'd want it for free... so he could sell it to Dean," nodded Drakken.

"Sounds about right," laughed Shego, she paused her soldering, "When this is done... are we assembling it?"

"We should be able too," stated Drakken, he smiled.

"Well then, lets get the rest of what is needed so we can get this done and you can actually work on your stuff," declared Shego, "I'd rather watch you destroy the lab with your own out of pocket ideas then government toy garbage."

Drakken could have made a rebuttal or comment, but she'd already moved to go get the rest of the ring parts he had scattered around near her book. In truth, he wanted this ring gone so he could focus on a far more important ring in his drawer... but he would also like to get working on his own projects too.

=

The two fell into a light and slightly playful conversation as they began piecing the mood ring together. At one point, Shego became hyper aware of how much Drakken and she were flirting with each other, not that she minded. Somewhere around him telling her how the goggles irritated him because he couldn't see the rest of her beautiful face and her own desire to hold his hand as they worked... she looked directly at him instead of the ring. Shego felt her face flush as she and Drakken locked eyes through their goggles after their light laughter. She glanced down only to make sure she was still soldering the correct wire. She felt Drakken's hand sliding to move her hair away from her face, the grin still on his face. She stopped soldering and she watched him put the tweezers down.

"Drakken," she began but he moved towards her swiftly and she did the same.

In seconds she had moved to his lap, their lips feverish and the sound of their googles hitting each other before Drakken yanked his own off. Mid kiss Drakken pulled away and his eyes were on the table. She wondered if they'd knocked the rings over, but she didn't care to look. She just wanted Drakken's lips back on hers.

"Shego, wait," Drakken's voice was forced and she felt his hand hesitate to leave where it had roamed under her unzipped top, "The ring."

"We'll finish it later," She brushed off as her lips began kissing along his face in hopes to pull him back into their previous make-out.

"It's glowing," he swallowed hard, "I- the rings effecting us-"

Shego glanced at the pink swirl on the crustal of the ring and while annoyed... she wasn't exactly against what was happening.

"I'm fine with it if you are," hummed Shego as she pulled his chin so he looked at her.

There was only a split second of silence before Drakken's lips found hers but she felt his hand reach behind her and suddenly the feverish lust she was feeling softened. They both pulled back and his other arm that was pulling her tighter to him loosened. She felt a breath leave her she didn't know she was holing and looked behind her to where Drakken had pulled the wire off the ring and it was no longer glowing. She looked back at Drakken.

"That little thing is powerful," she mused, "Dangerous."

"It appears it is," stated Drakken.

Shego didn't remove herself from his lap and his other hand now removed from disabling the ring was now messaging her thigh. While the fever had settled, Shego wasn't exactly wanting to end their fiery lab session and when they finally regained eye-contact in the silence. Their lips returned to their previous attack, this time clearly not being enabled by exterior stimuli... which neither were unhappy about.

Drakken's smile lingered as Shego vanished into the closing elevators. He looked down at the list of personal projects she'd helped him construct. A physical reminder of his own new years goals of working on things for himself. He put the list down and opened the drawer of his desk to put the old blueprint and ideas in there to keep them separate from his files. A daily reminder along with the list that he should focus on his own creations. Placing the papers snugly and the list on top, he paused before closing it. Instead opening the top drawer and digging into the back to pull out the leather box that held Shego's ring. He had forgotten it once, and he wasn't about to do it again. He tucked it into his pocket before grabbing the list again. Making sure to squeeze a small note above all the others on the list, 'Ring.' If Shego were to look at it, she would have only assume it related to his own variant on the Mood Ring... but for him it was a reminder.

He closed the drawer and turned out the lamp above his desk. His hand still in his pocket and on the box. Before he started this new year with his own work or even for his contracted work... there was something far more important and pressing to take care of.

A proper perfect proposal.

=

It was late in the evening when Drakken finally left the lab, mainly due to the urging of Flower pretending to die all over the work table from lack of water. It had been all an overreaction but it did remind Drakken that he was hungry. The grumbling of his stomach almost mirrored his thoughts as he grabbed some bread to begin making a sandwich. Flower had already darted to fumble in the sink, splashing water droplets everywhere.

"Do you mind?" snapped Drakken as he yanked his bread out of the way, "I'm not in the mood for soggy bread."

Flower turned towards him as if to pause in thought before aggressively resuming its splashing.

"Rude," grumbled Drakken as he moved the items to the small island and made way to the fridge.

The assembly didn't take long, minus the avoidance of Flower's mess, and last was the pickles. He glared at the third attempt at opening the jar failed. Drakken glared at the lid as if examining it for tampering.

"So you think Shego purposely seals these tight to irk me?" asked Drakken. He glanced at Flower who gave a vigorous nod, "I knew it."

"Are you seriously taking sides with yourself?"

Drakken yelled at the sudden voice and dropped the jar with a loud crash.

Shego stood in the doorway with her arms crossed.

"Shego!" yelled Drakken as Flower hastily turned off the sink and with a cold chill retreated down Drakken's spine, "I... No."

"Mmhm," scoffed Shego, "Kind of sounded like you were using Flower as your backup in thinking I was plotting against you."

"I never said you were plotting," hastened Drakken as he watched Shego grab a broom and toss it towards him, "

"Fine, musing, then," stated Shego as she sat up on the island and gestured to Drakken's mess, "I can assure you, I don't sit around plotting against your pickles."

"My apologies," huffed Drakken as he began swiping the mess.

"I generally do so when I'm putting them back in the fridge," finished Shego.

Drakken looked up from his sweeping.

"I knew it," he glared at her.

She was smirking as she took a bite of his half-made sandwich.

"Hey!" he snapped, "That was mine!"

"Snooze you loose," smirked Shego as she put it back on the plate, "This is terrible you know."

"Of coarse it is... there are no pickles," Drakken indicated to the mess.

"Come on, lets go out and grab something," Shego hopped off the island and pulled him backwards around it.

"We're leaving the mess?" asked Drakken as she made him drop the broom.

"That's why we have Hector," snorted Shego as she hit the intercom, "Hector! Kitchen!"

Drakken didn't argue it was eight in the evening and that she'd just gotten home, but his stomach was in agreement with Shego's request to get dinner and just in case... he was making sure to bring the ring with him this time.

=

The lighting couldn't have been more perfect across the candle lit table. The nearest people were far enough away that it was only the light music that could be heard apart from their own voices. There was not a waiter in sight to interrupt this time. Drakken found his hand drift to his pocket where he pulled out the delicate box that he'd been eager to open for months.

"Did your fish taste funny?" asked Shego as she took a drink of her wine, "I'm trying to decide if its the seasoning or not."

"Uh, the seasoning was a little bitter," Drakken answered. He slid his hand over hers as she put her glass down, "Did I tell you how lovely you look this evening?"

He didn't miss the tint to her face as she gave him an eyeroll as reply.

"I think you've had too much wine," she snorted.

"Funny, I swore I was only drinking water," replied Drakken. He laced her fingers with hers, "Shego?"

"Hmm?" she hummed. Her face slightly more flushed.

"You know you and I have known each other-" he began the rehearsed speech, but she pulled her hand from his, "What?"

"I... I ohm," Shego's flush vanished and in a split second she sprinted from the table.

Drakken sat there trying to process what was happening, but before he could, his stomach suddenly started to turn and he felt the need to vomit. He was just getting to his feet when he started feeling extremely hot and his mouth began to water. The sound of wretching to his left made the nausea reach full height before running to the bathroom himself.

=

Drakken lay on the floor of his bathroom a few hours later, exhausted, ill, and never wanting to hear the word fish again... his phone lay next to him where he heard Shego speak.

"We're never eating there again," came her voice in a whisper.

"If I had any strength left, I'd... I dunno," Drakken trailed off, "How's your bathroom?"

"Disgusting..." she breathed, "Yours."

"We should just move," he breathed as he looked around.

"Well, the henchmen are back to working on the house," Shego gave a faint chuckle, "I'm too tired to laugh."

"Yeah... I'm gonna sleep on the floor now," Drakken sighed.

"Sounds safe... I think I'm doing to same... goodnight," the phone call ended.

Drakken looked up at the ceiling and thought about his coat flung somewhere in his room, a ring still in its pocket.

Stupid fish.

=

A week later, and far from home this time, Drakken and Shego sat at a lovely bistro enjoying a decadent lunch. It had been perfect timing for a small weekend conference in France, which meany another attempt at a proposal for Drakken. He could have simply asked her at home, but it wasn't the same and he wanted it to be perfect... besides Shego had become focused on her house project again now that they'd removed any traps... which had also kept Shego's focus on another company ledger she had found... that he shook from his head as he focused on the women across from him.

"Have I told you yet today how fetching you look?" asked Drakken as he leaned over the small table towards Shego.

"You know I'm really enjoying how much you're noticing with those glasses," smiled Shego as she reached a fiddled with the frames, "But you've only said it twice today."

"My apologizes," he smirked as he played with her hand, "I'll make sure to say it a few more times."

His thumb rubbed along her hand and he glanced down at her slender fingers as she laughed.

"Shego, I-"

"You know I've been thinking," cut in Shego, "Maybe it's time for a change..."

"I- what?" asked Drakken in confusion.

Shego sighed and she took a sip of her drink before continuing.

"I'm thinking of going by... Sheila," stated Shego, "Shego seems so... hero or villain, you know."

"Oh," said Drakken, "I supposed I could get used to it... Sheila?"

He saw her face flush.

"It's also... so formal sounding," she continued, "It feels like Shego has always been my shield."

"I see," hummed Drakken, "Well, I am fond of both names... what brought this on?"

"The reservation," Shego gestured towards the bistro, "When they said party for Dr. Drakken and Shego, I just felt like we we're at an old villain hotspot... not to mentioned the fake sweetly smile we got from the server."

"Ah, yes I did notice that," stated Drakken. He thought for a moment, "I do like the respect I get with the name, though."

"I know you do," smiled Shego, "It's great when we can get free upgrades. But I think I'm ready to only use the names for... other settings."

Drakken nodded and she kept looking at him. It dawned on him mid-sip, that this had been a subject she'd been skating on for months... finally giving up being casual about it. She'd brought up his name, had slipped it in... and had seemed content when he would mock her by calling her Sheila. It was something he himself wasn't sure he was ready for... at least not yet... but her calling him Drew here and there... and not mocking... had made him more... pleased then he would have thought he would ever be. He put that aside and reached in his pocket.

"Sheila," he smiled. The smile reached her eyes as he spoke, "I-"

"Re-fill?" came the waiters interruption.

Drakken glared at the young man holding a water vase. Their smile faultered.

"Yes," stated Shego as she missed the iteration and let the man refill the glass.

"Ohm," the young man stuttered and looked away from Drakken's glare, "W-Would either like dessert?"

Drakken was about to snap but Shego spoke before he could.

"Is the Cherry Clafoutis made with fresh cherries?" asked Shego.

"Y-Yes," smiled the waiter, "It was also made this morning."

"I would like a slice. Drew?" Shego turned towards him and Drakken hastily schooled his face.

"I'll have the same," he nodded. He wasn't even sure what it was other than it contained cherries.

The waiter retreated to place the order and Drakken focused back on Shego.

"You were saying?" asked Shego as she sipped her water with her free hand.

Drakken cleared his throat and continued. His free hand grasped the box tighter as his other slid to reach Shego's.

"Sheila," he began. Her eyes were fixed on him intently. He cleared his throat again as he felt his nerves begin to spin, "Shiela, you-"

The speech he was about to give was cut dramatically short. In the blink of an eye and with only the squeal of tires and a scream... the table and several umbrellas were ripped away with a clatter and shrill yells. The source of the chaos was high-powered sports car turning on nearly two wheels with a grappling hook in its trunk. The continued original scream belonged to a familiar blonde teen who seemed unable to let go of the source of the hook and was being dragged along with the tables and umbrellas.

"Why isn't he letting go?" asked Drakken in shock.

"It's Stoppable," she stated before shooting a blast and severing the cables wire causing the sports car to flip and Ron to start flying their way, "Oh no-"

Ron flew headlong into their table, sending everything flying and Drakken and Shego to hastily be shoved out of their seats. They doubted that the teen had even registered them as she proceeded to takeout a few more tables in front of them. Drakken felt himself being yanked to his feet by Shego.

"Let's get out of here before the other half of Team Possible shows up," scoffed Shego in a low whisper.

"Agreed," said Drakken as he saw cameras being pulled out. He saw the two plates being held by their waiter as he stared at the mess, "We'll take those to go."

"Uh... yes sir," the waiter spun on the spot trying to figure his next move before disappearing back into the building.

Drakken sighed and shot a dirty look at the chaos around them as he felt his pocket again. He froze and patted his now empty pocket. The mess around him and the people shifting about gave him little viewing of where it might have gone. Shego was already out of sight thankfully as he dropped to the ground and began searching through the mess of broken dishes and food where they had once stood.

"Drakken?" came Shego's voice in a low hiss through the crowd.

He hastened his search and hissed as broken glass cut one of his fingers as he side stepped someone nearly stepped on him. He glared and with a quick snap sound Flower caused the man to fall into a group of people as he searched the mess.

"Drew!" snapped Shego through the crowd.

Drakken gave one last look and darted out of the mess and towards Shego's voice. He was doing very little to not draw attention to himself as people had fallen and police sirens could be heard coming closer. He could hear the annoyance in Shego's voice as he gave one last look before standing up.

"What are you doing?" he heard her voice hiss before he was yanked through the crowd by her hand on his wrist, "Did you fall-"

"Yes," Drakken lied as they made their way around the building and out of the crowd.

"Well if you'd followed me- are you bleeding?" asked Shego as she looked down at his hand.

"It's fine..." he glanced over his shoulder at the police pulling up, "Perhaps we should stick around?"

"As nice as it would be to mock the side-kick with whatever that was... I'd rather just get out of here," replied Shego, "Why? Do you?"

Drakken was horrified at the thought but it would be a good way to play off looking for-

"I got your boxes!"

Drakken and Shego both jumped at the window where they had been standing opened to see their waiter. While Shego took the boxes, Drakken made a mental note to never return to this restaurant again. Shego cleared her throat and glanced at Drakken's pocket and he sighed as Shego headed up the small hill along the building to get to the hovercar. He pulled out his wallet and was glad he'd brought cash for once so he didn't have to wait for his card.

"How much was it?" he grumbled. Regretting not moving quicker and avoiding paying at all.

"There comping the meals," shrugged the waiter. Before Drakken could shoot the waiter a look he continued, "But I think you were looking for this?"

Drakken looked to see the waiter holding the leather box he'd been searching for. He snatched it quickly and was about to question the man about where he'd found it when he heard the sound of the hovercar getting closer. He tossed a bill from his wallet at the waiter and hurried towards the sound and shoved the box in his pocket. He heard the man yell after him in a jovial voice that told him that the bill he'd given was probably more than he'd wanted to depart with but given the relief his was feeling, he was lucky he hadn't just tossed his wallet at the man.

So maybe we come back another time.

=

Drakken turned the box over in his hand as he sat on the bed. Three times he'd tried to propose this week and it had been met with disaster. He'd debated the whole way home just to ask her casually just so it was done... but he'd shook that thought far from his mind almost instantly. It didn't have to be flawless but it would be nice if it went mildly smooth. He heard the hair dryer cut off in the bathroom and he shoved the ring to the far back of the drawer and closed it. He slid under the covers as if he hadn't spent that last half hour starring at a ring instead of getting ready for bed.

"I think its time I get a new hairdryer," mused Shego as she came through the bathroom doorway, "It's taking longer to heat up."

"We'll pick one up tomorrow," said Drakken as Shego climbed in bed.

"You have calls tomorrow for your projects," stated Shego as she flopped extremely close to him and shifted closer, "I can just order one."

"I think our delivery people are on strike," stated Drakken, "We can go out to a dinner and grab one before."

"Again?" asked Shego as she put her head on his shoulder, "Not complaining about the wining and dining or anything... but didn't you make a big deal about needing time to work?"

"Changed my mind," replied Drakken as he pulled Shego closer, "You know I'm all over the place."

"Constantly," she snorted, "Dinner it is then. How's your hand?"

"Doesn't hurt at all actually," Drakken held up his banded hand, "Which is surprising because-"

He was cut off as Shego's lips covered his.

=

Perhaps a nice proposal at home was a better idea. The past few days seemed to be conspiring against Drakken's perfect proposal. They'd gone to a nice dinner at a restaurant they'd never been too, only to be bombarded by people recognizing his name... which had made Drakken decide to book reservations under Lipsky going forward. They'd gone for a walk in the park at a local festival, and Drakken had even got on one knee while Shego had been looking at the water... only for a dog and a Frisbee to him into the water... and unfortunately... Shego had been dragged along. Which had led to the last two days, staying home as his knee rested and Shego... He looked at her cuddled up next to him on the couch and tightly wrapped in the blanket. Her nose red and eyes slightly puffy.

"You're beautiful," hummed Drakken as he moved the hair out of her face as she snuggled deeper into the blankets.

"Are you mocking me?" asked Shego as she snuggled closer against him.

"No," he said truthfully, he let out a soft sigh, "Why don't you get some rest and I'll-"

"Stay right here," she muffled into his side, "Work later, just snuggle with me and watch the movie."

"Are you trying to get me sick too?" he mused.

"Yup," she sniffed.

He rolled his eyes, but pulled her closer as they would spend the rest of the day watching horrible television before both ending up with a horrible cold for the next week.

=

Drakken wished he could slam the elevator doors, but alas he didn't have that ability... yet... something he would work on for the future. He made his way into the kitchen where Shego was coming in from outside, clearly enjoying the warmer than normal day by the pool.

"I was just about to come get you," said Shego, "How went the conference?"

"Officially... we full test my ozone project in Switzerland next month," he grinned, but she raised a brow, "Unofficially, there is a lot of red tape to fully implement it."

Shego frowned before glaring.

"Pfft, they're lucky you're even asking," snapped Shego, "They should be grateful for it."

"Yes, but apparently not being in villainy has far more restrictions to doing good deeds... I also learned that technically when my plants were used to save the world... they might have not allowed me too."

"That is so stupid," growled Shego, "Kind of makes me wonder if so many scientists we stolen from might not have lacked security on purpose."

Drakken nodded and then it clicked.

"What if... after the launch... it gets... stolen..." suggested Drakken.

Shego raised a brow and then grinned.

"Drew Lipsky, are you saying we should stage a robbery?" asked Shego, "And use your invention illegally... for the good of the world?"

"We may see where the cards fall," smirked Drakken, it faltered slightly, "But we will need a fall guy... someone to be the villain for our cause."

"Hmm, the only one that comes to mind is... Dementor," shrugged Shego.

Drakken frowned.

"He has been insistent on the flower issue... perhaps he and I could work out a deal... thoughts for later," nodded Drakken, "Dinner this evening?"

"For food, success, or borderline villain plotting?" asked Shego as she passed him a water.

"All three," stated Drakken as Flower made an appearance just to yank the bottle from him, "I meany all three points, but just us two."

Flower dropped the water-bottle back in his hand and vanished again.

"I'm feeling Chinese food," stated Shego as she leaned against his shoulder.

"Oh," Drakken cringed, "I was thinking we could get something more-"

"Yeah, let's go for Chinese," continued Shego, she stretched, "I could go for some dumplings. Let me know when you're ready to go, I'm getting changed."

"For Chinese?" asked Drakken as Shego headed towards the stairs.

"Yes," she called over her shoulder.

"Okay," sighed Drakken as he looked at his empty kitchen.

Flower appeared again and made circling motions.

"Okay," stated Drakken with determination.

Today is the day.

=

When Shego had mentioned wanting to Chinese Food he hadn't planned on her wanting to travel so far away for it. Not that he minded, but he wished they'd kept a lair around the islands they had flown towards. It was an odd feeling having walked into a restaurant neither had been too in years, but they had been recognized, but not in the way that had become normal for them. The place was seldom busy and they could have stayed, but Drakken didn't want to risk the elderly owner not interrupting them since they'd seemed to eager to see them when he'd yelled.

'The prodigal customers finally return.'

Which had felt... right. But as they landed on a beach near where their first lair was, the remnants having long since now collapsed into the ocean... they two had created a picnic area. A washed up log had served as a separator from the hovercraft ruining the view as they'd tossed down the blanket kept in its storage down on the sand.

"So you feel like we ate there as often as they claimed?" asked Drakken as he handed her a drink.

"At least twice a month for a year... and that was after I started working for you," answered Shego, "Even when we moved to the next three lairs after, we still went back there- We probably kept them in business on dumplings alone."

"Hmm... still I feel like them remembering our order was odd," stated Drakken as they both flopped into their seat, their backs against the log and watching the ocean in front of them.

"I guess," hummed Shego as she ate her main dish.

Drakken's eyes kept darting to the untouched dumplings as Shego slid him over an eggroll. He took the offered eggroll and put it aside, offering her the dumplings. Shego smiled and put the dumplings down in front of her. He chose to focus on the water in front of them as she snuggled into his shoulder. His eyes darting to the dumplings between idle chatter. He watched the warm waves and the tall broken tower of stone in the distance, wondering if any of their old technology had survived the waters below.

"Last time we we're there, at least the balcony was still somewhat strong," stated Drakken as he reached for his eggroll.

"I remember..." she trailed off and shifted next to him. "We should have ohm... brought wine floats too."

"Mmm," Drakken chewed his roll, "Yeah, complete the whole-"

As Drakken had taken the last bite, he bit something hard and froze. A sense of panic raced through him as he wondered how it had gotten out of its wrapped little foil. Or in the eggroll... he swore he told the owner to put it in the dumpling. Shego learned to look at him, a smile flickering on her lips.

"You okay there?" asked Shego, leaning towards him.

Drakken looked at her, and nodded.

"Fine," he mumbled out with an attempt at a smile.

He saw her smile falter and she looked at the other egg roll.

"That's good," said Shego. "Oh, here... I don't think I want the other eggroll."

"Mmhmm," hummed Drakken as Shego's eyes lingered on him before turning back to her food.

Drakken made sure Shego wasn't looking at him before hastily pulling out the metal ring from his mouth. He began trying to clean it off on the blanket beside him while keeping an eye on Shego. He began feeling the now clean ring which felt absent of the stones. Panic raced through him as he wondered if he'd swallowed them. He stolen a glance at it in the setting sun as Shego went in for a dumpling. He looked down at the silver smooth ring in his hand and raised his brow in confusion. It wasn't Shego's ring.

"At least you didn't choke on it," Shego's voice was in his ear and he whipped around to see her only a few inches from him, "I was worried you'd do that or break a tooth."

"You- what?" Drakken looked back at the ring and then back to Shego, "What's happening?"

"Well, you seemed to be taking forever... so..." She trailed off and looked at the ring in his hand, "Do I have to ask outright or are you just going to answer."

Drakken looked at the ring and then back at the box of dumplings.

"I was—You should eat more dumplings," he hastened with a grin spreading on his face.

Shego's smirk melted and she looked from him to the dumpling box and back before hastily beginning to rip through dumplings with her fingers. Drakken was trying not to laugh at the scene in front of him as glanced down at the silver ring in his hand, wanting to put it on but waiting for Shego to finish looking for her own.

"It's in foil," he said as she made a bigger mess looking in the dismantled dumplings.

"Good thinking," he heard Shego snicker.

"I didn't want you to choke or break a tooth," he chuckled, but the joke was barely there and she had found the ring.

"Here," said Drakken as he took the wrapper from her and gave her a napkin, "I'll open it."

Her hand was cleaned and in front of him before he could finish opening getting the ring out of the foil. Holding out the ring he cleared his throat.

"Shego, I-"

"Yes," she cut him off, "The answer is yes, obviously. I just got you one."

"I have a speech," he tried to hide the whine he wanted to give.

"You always have a speech," she sighed, "The answer is yes."

"I have been trying all week-"

"Drakken!"

He rolled his eyes but the grin on his face didn't fade as he slipped the ring on her finger. The urge to give the speech or even joke was still there but it fell to the wayside as Shego grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his lips against hers. His arms began to wrap around her, only stopped as he felt her slip the silver ring over his finger before yanking him into a kiss.

=

Drakken watched as the horizon began to grow lighter but neither made an effort to move for the hovercraft. Shego nestled closer to him and he felt her hand shift from on top of his. He smirked as he saw her moving her hand to look at the ring in the slight sunrise. His hand slid over hers with his own ring and she heard her chuckle.

"Are you trying to eclipse mine?" she asked. She looked up at him slightly, "Kind of rude you know."

"Maybe I just wanted to hold your hand?" he replied. She stared at him, "Maybe I wanted to look at mine."

"Mmhm, that's what I thought," she turned slightly so she was curled up against him. She held her hand up, "there, now you can't reach it so I can admire it all I want."

There was a silence. He saw a smirk on her face and her brow rose.

"Drew..."

"Yes it's real," snorted Drakken, "Last thing I want is Junior holding up to his promise to whisk you away and run me over."

"Maybe I wasn't going to ask that," huffed Shego. Drakken raised a brow, "Okay maybe I was..."

"Would you have said no if it wasn't," he mused as she went back to leaning against him.

"Pfft, I would have just bought one myself on your dime," she snorted, "You asked me now. There are no take backs."

"I didn't really get a chance to ask," he snickered.

"Fine," there was a soft sigh as she pulled his arm back around her.

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Shego?"

"I was waiting for the speech," she said softly.

Drakken pulled her closer and waited another breath before he began the speech. He'd worried it was long-winded but he barely got past the third sentence when he noticed Shego's breathing had shifted and she in fact... had fallen asleep. Knowing full it was being up all night was the reason, he was slightly glad he'd not started the speech before the ring given her light snoring response. He leaned his head against the top of her and watched the sunrise while listening to her content breathing. Eyes half-lidded himself, he looked down at where her hand was holding his and at the rings on their fingers. In the light he could see the two tones of silver on his ring and the slight look of vines on it. The rings looked like a matching set rather than to separate engagement rings. Letting his eyes fall closed and enjoy the scent of the salt air and Shego's hair, the sound of her breathing and the morning waves crashing was a perfect lullaby.

While he doubted the future would be smooth sailing and still feared there was always a chance for something in this new life to go wrong. They would have each other, all the trials and tribulation, every random tale they had woven from the moment their lives entwined... would weave in a perfect knot. There were still many questions they would come across, mysteries to unravel in around their home, but they would do it together. It was barely a handful of years ago that she was simply an ex-hero turned mercenary and then assistant and he a mad scientist attempting to dominate the world... and now here they were... no longer villains, but no where near heroes, but a future and a world all new and at their fingertips. Together.

Funny how... Things Change.

END

A/N: THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!

While I do have so many future stories for these two, this my friends, is where RTD shall end. You can check out my other writing especially THINGS CHANGE to see how their future pans out. Also, fear not there will be more tales in the future... just not in this story.

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