I could try to tell y'all how sorry I am for not updating. But I truely have nothing so say, except for simply "I'm sorry".

So eat up! A Valentine's Day present from ME to all of YOU! Injoi this one, guys. Only a few more chapters left! (Oh, addish, Season Four of KP started yesterday in U.S.! GO SEASON 4! I'M LOVIN' IT!)

-

Shego could not sleep. She was almost eight months pregnant and her stomach had grown so large that it was nearly impossible to sleep. She couldn't lie on her stomach. She couldn't breathe when she lay on her back. Growling, she finally sat up and put a hand to her swollen belly.

"You really are a pain, you know?"

The baby only kicked in response.

Deciding she may as well spread her misery around, Shego stumbled out into the darkness of the hall. Her feet led her down to Monty's room.

The lord, with no growing babies to bother him, slept peacefully in a large four-poster bed.

"Monty," Shego whispered. He slept on.

"Monty," she said aloud. Still no response.

"MONTY!" Shego bellowed, her host finally waking with a start and a painful crash against the headboard.

"Shego," he said, rubbing the welt on the back of his head. "Whatever is the matter?"

"Can't sleep. Baby keeping me up. Can I just sleep with you?"

"With me?" Monty repeated, looking startled. "I don't know if that-"

"Thanks Monty, you're the best," Shego said, ignoring his protests and slipping between the blankets. She rolled over once and was instantly asleep. Monty stared at her and sighed. Stopping Shego from doing something was like stopping an avalanche: painful, dangerous, and altogether hopeless. Oh, well, he decided. Sleeping Shego was much more peaceful than Awake Shego, not to mention quieter. And attractive too, Monty had to admit, with her dark hair arranged smoothly on her pillow. He smiled.

"Good night, Shego."

Then he lay back down and drifted off as well.

-

"Nice place," Sam commented, looking around at the 20-foot ceilings and priceless works of art in the mansion with interest. She'd had some time off and had come to see where Shego and Monty lived.

"Thank you," Monty said, a little proudly.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice," Shego replied, lounging on the cough in a usually agreeable mood. She gave a great heave and hoisted herself up.

"Lemonade? In the garden?"

"Love some," Sam answered.

"'K, meet you out there," Shego, shuffling off to the kitchen. Monty sighed.

"That was my mother's tradition."

For some odd reason, Sam gave him a strange look.

"It seems like you've been out of contact with her for a while," she said slowly as they made their way to the garden.

"Yes." He sighed again. "You see, we got in a rather large disagreement last year, not long before Shego arrived actually, and we haven't spoken since." Sam suddenly paused to pick a pink blossom growing on a vine over their heads, as they walked down the stone path outside. She stared at the flower for a moment before looking straight at Monty and asking,

"Did you do anything you regret?" Monty blinked.

"Well, I said things I certainly regret and was quite angry for a while. Yes, I was very angry when I came back home and I-" He stopped and looked away. He was hiding something.

"You what? Tell me, Monty." Monty met Sam's eye again and stared intently at her.

"I can't. I don't remember."

Silence.

Then, "Hey guys, over here!" Shego was saying, beckoning them over to the lovely white gazebo in the back lawn. So Monty turned and went over to her, through the fresh green grass. He did not see Sam's wide-eyed expression or hear her tiny gasp. He did not know she looked up to the clear spring sky, as if hoping to find an answer there, and whispered something to herself that was lost in the breeze ruffling the newly-budding trees lining the estate. He couldn't know the secret Sam held all the rest of the afternoon, during their picnic, during her good-byes, during the night as she quietly worked away at her computer. He did not need to know. The secret could wait.

-

More time passed. Not much changed at Fisk Manor, save for the fact that Shego absolutely insisted on sleeping with Monty every night. Monty protested at first, "It wouldn't be right," he said, "We shouldn't," he said. But unable to come up with a valid reason, he had no choice but to give in.

One night, Shego and Monty were preparing for bed, like usual, and Monty opened his mouth to come up with a complaint, like usual, when Shego fell into a teasing mood.

"Monty, why don't you want to sleep with me?" She asked in a high, sing-songy, girly way. She climbed into bed and pulled up the covers.

"Well," Monty started, making his way across the room and looking around nervously, "it's just that-"

"Do you not LIKE me?" Shego asked, leaning on one elbow on the mattress.

"NO," Monty answered.

"Do you not think I'm PRETTY?"

"No! Shego, you're beautiful!" A rosy blush was beginning to rise to Monty's cheeks now; the whole conversation was making him very uncomfortable.

"Hmmm," Shego leaned back at stared at the ceiling, mocking an expression of deep thought. Then, in a child-like accusation,

"Monty! Are you thinking naughty thoughts about me?"

"NO!" Now Monty stopped in his tracks and was horrified to her smiling lazily through lowered eyelashes.

"No?" she repeated in a low voice.

"No, I never…" he studied her face again. Mirth. She was laughing at him.

"Shego," he said more calmly, "are you trying to seduce me?" She shrugged.

"Maybe." She then simply lay back down and closed her eyes.

Monty slowly switched off the lights. He pushed up the blankets and moved very close to Shego.

"Well, it was quite impressive," he whispered sweetly into her ear. Shego involuntarily stiffened at the sudden close contact. Then Monty did something unexpected. He slid his lips down Shego's jaw line to her neck and held his face there for a moment, breathing softly.

Then he moved quietly away, retreating to his side of the bed.

At first Shego lay stunned. But deciding it may as well be a night for boldness, she turned and snuggled against him, her head nestled against his chest. For some reason, Monty was not surprised. It was if he had expected this. He pulled her closer, bringing his arms around her, not at all disgusted or put off by her huge stomach. There, they slept, undisturbed and comfortably, that long, precious night.

Comments, concerns, and other are always welcome. Thanks for stickin' with me, guys.