Later that Night: Ronby The Riverboat Cap'n

Note: In this universe, KP & Co. are owned by the mouse. In truth, KP isn't owned by anyone, & any suggestion otherwise will get you knocked into a wall. Hard.

Ron walked through his front door, not entirely sure what had just happened. He remembered everything, he just couldn't process it right now. He'd sleep, and things would be clearer in the morning

"Ron? Is that you?"

sigh So much for sleep, at least for the next fifteen minutes. "Yeah dad, it's me"

"Are you hurt?"

"Not really. Just a headache and some rope burns. I'll be fine," after a brief pause, "I think this may be it."

"No more adventures?"

"No more adventures."

"Good, you do good things son, but this has cost you so much. Sprains, strains, stitches, burns, you didn't even get to go to prom . .. ."

"Um . . . I kinda did, dad."

"You made it to prom?"

"Yeah."

"That's wonderful. How was the food?"

"I don't know. We didn't have time to eat anything."

" 'We'? You found a date? Ronnie, that's great! What was her name?"

"It was Kim, dad."

"Kimmie? I thought she was going with . .. what was his name?"

"Eric. It turns out he was one of Drakken's robots."

"Oh," silence. "Well, at least you there to cheer her up. Who was crowned King & Queen?"

"Don't know. We didn't get there 'til after that."

"After that? But the only thing after that is . . ." His dad broke into a grin. "Ronnie did you and Kim dance the last dance together?"

"Yeah."

"Then why do you look so down."

" 'Cause that's not all we did."

"Huh . .. .Oh."

"Dad, I'm kinda freaked out."

"Why?"

"What if this goes bad? Does that mean we can't be friends anymore? What do we do now? Is there stuff we have to do? Why pick me? What have I ever done for her but make jokes and trip over my pants? Rufus has helped her more than I have. I'm too short. I can barely lift a cinder block . .. ."

"Ronald Stoppable, Stop That Right Now! I understand you're scared but that's no reason to say such terrible things about yourself."

"How can you understand?"

Mr. Stoppable rubs his nose "Oy," sighs. "I can understand because I spent most of the night after my first date with your mother in the bathroom nauseous."

"Doesn't sound like a fun date."

"After. Wiseguy. Hey, at least you're still able to make jokes, so it can't be as bad as all that. Get up a minute."

"Awww, dad, I'm wiped."

"C'mon, just get up a minute."

sigh "Alright."

Ron gets up and father & son walk to a living room mirror.

"What do you see?'

"I see you & me."

"So do I, but look closer. What do you see?"

"Nothing. Just two regular guys."

"Two regular guys?"

"Yeah."

Mr. Stoppable kneels and begins to roll up one of Ron's pant legs, exposing a pinkish section of skin below normal looking skin.

"What is this?"

"Skin discoloration."

"From"

"From the chilly pup quick freeze machine."

He stands up, takes off Ron's cummerbund, and unbuttons his shirt to the chest.

"These are new. What are they?" he asks, pointing to a chapped and bloody patch of skin on Ron's stomach.

"Rope burns from tonight. I get it dad, okay? On top of being a spazz, I'm a scarred-up freak."

"Ronnie, does it bother you to have these scars?"

"Not really. Why?"

"Good question. Why doesn't it bother you."

"Because . .. " voice wavers. Tears start to form.

"It's okay, son. You can say it."

"Because it means she doesn't have the scars. Everything that happens to me doesn't happen to her. Oh God, dad, I don't want her to get hurt . . . " Overwhelmed, Ron falls to the couch and starts crying into his forearms. Mr. Stoppable sits next to him and pulls him into an embrace.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. I didn't mean to do this. All I meant was . .. . Do you feel like you're unworthy of her. That you have to earn her somehow? Ron nods yes.

"Even if you had to," Mr. Stoppable brings Ron's head up and looks him in the eyes, "WHICH YOU DON'T, my point was that you already have. Son, there aren't many grown men who'd put themselves through what you do, much less any other sixteen year old kids. And even if all you've ever done is bring Rufus," brings Ron to eye level again, "Which isn't even a tenth of what you've done, by the way, but even if it was, you've done it every time Kim's needed you. And now . .. neither of you may have expected to feel like this for the other, but you found her, now go and get her."

Ron raises up, wiping his eyes, "It's not that simple, dad?"

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Will you ever betray her?'

"No."

"It's that simple. Like I said, go get her. But first, go get some sleep. It's almost 3:00."

"Okay. Thanks, dad."

"It's what I'm here for."

Ron heads up the stairs. Mr. Stoppable walks towards the kitchen.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, Ronnie?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, son"

"Good night."

"Good night."

Mr. Stoppable pours a glass of milk and sits at his kitchen table. He has never been the most faithful of Jews, but he still says a prayer that this new phase in his son's relationship with his best friend brings only good things to both of them. Kim had been as much a child to he and his wife as Ron had, and the thought of maybe, just maybe, someday being able to call her daughter brought tears to his eyes. His wife would be thrilled at the news, but he would let Ron tell her in his own time. For now, he would take his own advice and go to bed.

footnote: There will be a "Later that Night: Kim." It may be part two, but chronologically will be happening later in the night. Comments welcome.