Kim heard the front door open as she fed the babies. After the babies were changed and put back into their crib she came downstairs and found Shego in the living room, staring off into space. “You really look unhappy. What did the doctor say about your headaches?”
“Bad news.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough.”
“Migraines? Brain tumor?”
“Glasses. I need reading glasses. I thought my eyes were perfect after the comet, but I've been doing so much reading for my classes I'm suffering from eye strain.”
“Glasses?” Kim laughed, “You got this upset about glasses?”
“Must have been nice to have a happy childhood,” Shego said glumly. “For me they're kind of a symbol for what a lousy time I had. Kids made fun of me in grade school when I really needed them. After the comet Hego said I should keep wearing them to protect my identity -- like slipping on a pair of glasses can keep someone from knowing who I am.”
“Oooh, poor little Shego,” Kim cooed and pulled her lover over so her head was resting on Kim's breast. Afraid the popular kids will make fun of her.” Kim giggled and stroked her dark hair.
“Damn it, Kim. It's not funny. Stop patronizing me.”
“I'm sorry Shego, I know I shouldn't be laughing. But I was afraid there was something seriously wrong with you. I'm just too happy to mourn with you right now. I'll try to sympathize when you really get them, okay?”
“I already have them. They're just reading glasses. I don't need a prescription yet.”
“Can I see them?”
“They're in the case on the coffee table.”
“No, can I see you in them?”
“You'll laugh”
“I promise not to laugh,” Kim giggled.
“I can live with the headaches.”
“Oh, pwease wet me see you in your gwasses,” Kim pouted.
“I hate the baby talk!”
“Why do you think I'm doing it?”
“Fine. I'll put them on.”
The glasses had large round frames and gave Shego a slightly owlish look. Kim clenched her jaws tightly and fought the urge to laugh. She finally composed herself, “You look very… studious in them.”
“I look like a nerd.”
“You are a nerd, you're a Lit major.” Kim took Shego back her arms. “But you're a cute nerd. Maybe the glasses will keep the other girls from flirting with you and I won't have to be jealous all the time.”
“You really think I look cute in them?”
“Really.”
Ron got home a few minutes later. He glanced in the living room on his way to the kitchen. “Geez, can you two go to your room? There are heteros present.”
“It bothers you that much, Ron?”
“No, I'm willing to make a bowl of popcorn and watch. But Bonnie will freak if she comes down.”
“There's nothing to watch, Ron,” Kim assured him. “It's just a little snuggling. I'm not going to be in shape to seriously embarrass Bonnie for weeks.”
“I'm just going to have a bowl of cereal this morning, Stoppable.”
“You don't want my great mushroom Swiss omelet?
“I don't want anything heavy in my stomach while I'm taking the LSAT today.”
“Big ol' butterflies in the tummy?”
“Just little butterflies. But I'm afraid if the room is warm and I'm stuffed I may fall asleep during the exam.”
Kim appeared to be even more nervous than Shego about the LSAT and spent the afternoon pacing around the house. Between worry and the twins she was getting none of her own work done and Bonnie and Monique both scolded her about falling behind in her classes again.
“I promise to study all day tomorrow -- you can watch the girls. I just can't concentrate right now.”
“How did it go?” Kim asked as soon as Shego got in the door.
“I won't know for weeks.”
“Well, how do you feel like it went?”
“I feel good about it, but don't know if I'm being a realist or an optimist about that. I figure in a few weeks their circumlocution office will write me a long letter telling me nothing definite. Then I apply for Middleton Law.”
“You only won tonight because I'm tired from taking the LSAT.”
“We'll see what excuse you come up with next week.”
“You are going down, Mr. Du.”
The O'Ceallaighs had brought Kim and Shego a cappuccino machine of their own, but Bonnie had been left to mind the babies as Shego took Kim, Monique, and Ron to Columbia to Kenya. They sat at their old booth in the back and Shego waited for Kim to say something other than the words out of the redhead's mouth, “Well, we better head back.”
“Has she always been helpless in the romance department?” Shego asked Ron and Monique.
“Pretty much,” Ron confirmed.
“Yeah,” Monique seconded.
“What are you talking about?” Kim complained.
“What is today?”
“Uh, is Sunday not the right answer?”
“Try second anniversary of our first coffee date here at C2K.”
Kim blushed slightly as Shego continued. “I mean, I was going to propose in front of witnesses and everything, but if it made so little impression on you -- OWW! What did you do that for?”
“Just leaving a little impression on you. And the answer is yes. I've already got next Valentine's Day down on my calendar. Next time ask before setting the date… Wait, there shouldn't be a next time.”
Wade's sixteenth birthday party at Possible Manor was an unusual affair. Wade knew so few people in the flesh that Ron didn't need to bake a large cake. On the other hand, the young genius knew so many people through the web that Shego had set up a webcam and ran a computer monitor through the television so that friends he had made through his work with Team Possible connected to wish him well from around the world.
Two presents, both from Dr. Drakken, were particularly moving to Wade. The first small package contained a personalized key to the hovercraft. When Wade opened the second, somewhat larger, package he let out a whoop and called, “Cool!”
“What is it, Wade.”
“It's letterhead stationary.”
“You get that excited about stationary?”
“Look what it says,” and Wade held it up so that everyone could read it. Across the top of the page it read 'Lipsky and Load, Inc.'
Shego softly chuckled.
“What's so funny?” Kim whispered.
“Dr D. is always playing the angles. He couldn't have stopped Wade from flying a hovercraft -- so he makes it look like his idea. And he wants to get the company's name branded into everyone's brain as Lipsky and Load because if he waited until Wade was eighteen the place would probably be called Load and Lipsky.”
Translation: Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur - Nobody should be punished for his thoughts