'Wow things don't change much do they?' Thought Lt. Col. Ronald Stoppable as he did his evening jog. Ron really hadn't seen much of Middleton since joining the corps. Twelve years ago right after high school let out for the last time. It was a spur of the moment decision that changed his life forever. Long gone was the little boy that dropped his pants at the drop of a hat. Now stood a man very confident in his own abilities that subsequently led to him from being a sidekick to a true leader and one of the most highly decorated officers in recent history.

The last time he was home was his fathers funeral 6 years ago. The poor guy had an aneurysm while at work. Later as a flashback to his inner Ron-nis he would joke that all that math was bad for his health. His mom knowing him just laughed with him. The funeral was a big affair in Middleton much to Ron's astonishment. He never really knew how many people's lives the old man had affected. Kim sat with him through the whole thing giving her ever present comfort to her ex boyfriend. Hana held his hand while he cried on Kim's shoulder. His mom stayed strong for them both through their grief. Ron only had 6 days emergency relief so really couldn't catch up with anybody at the time.

Now he was back for another death. Ron's mom was in the advanced stages of Leukemia and was only days from death. Ron had decided to resign his post as soon as he heard the news. There was no way he could continue with the marines and take care of Hana at the same time, but he was stopped when Gen. Cartwright vice chairman of the JCS and was assigned as a military liaison officer to Global Justice. Ron had turned the general down stating that Hana was his number one priority and really couldn't relocate her to Washington DC just for work, plus he didn't care for the current Director Du. Cartwright assured him that all he had to do is offer his expert advice when asked coordinate operations and relay intelligence between the civilian and military agencies. Ron was offered a promotion to Lt. Colonel if he agreed and his office would be set in his hometown and this would be a permanent assignment until he either tried to resign again or Hana was no longer under his care. Ron agreed but wouldn't begin his new position until after Hana started school again after summer break.

FLASHBACK

Things were going to change again soon. Ron had grown accustomed to his life in Marine FORECON. After Basic training somehow he was assigned to Officer Candidate School. After graduation before he could pick a field of training he was recruited in to Force Reconnaissance Where he spent 2 hell filled years being turned into the man he now was. Ron didn't get much time to write letters home but he did get a lot of them from home. Pictures from Kim at Harvard, Hana sleeping on his old bed rapped up in one of his old shirts with Rufus cuddled next to her. This was the most he got to see of his family and friends since enlisting. News wasn't much than the routine. After a 18 months Kim wrote of a new boyfriend and wanted Ron to meet him. That had hurt a little for Ron. They had broken up just before his enlistment amicably because of their soon to be separate career paths, but Ron had hoped after collage things would go back to the way they were. Still Kim was happy so Ron was happy and finished his training and finally got to go home for the first time in 3 years.

Ron's parents gushed over their boy and wanted to show him off to the world. Hana now 4 was getting prettier and he finally met Kim's new BF Terrance Hughes. Terry was an nice guy through and through a little cocky. They would never be close friends, Ron and Terry had formed a good acquaintance with each other through Kim. Ron was able to move on two years later when Kim and Terry married.

No thanks to the 9/11 tragedy Ron's skills were put to good use right after graduation. He was one of the first ground troops in Afghanistan stayed through out the entirety of official hostilities and another year afterward. By the end of the of that tour Ron received multiple personal and unit citations and commendation medals for achievement and skill involving command. Along with his campaign medals Ron also received 2 joint operation medals, a purple heart, a second overseas ribbon and two bronze stars, both with distinction. By the end of this tour Lt. Stoppable was now Capt. Stoppable and after a short respite back home for Kim's wedding Ron was deployed to Iraq.

The new combat zone was even more hellacious than the last. Ron was given his first command. Many of the Marines under him often joked and hazed him due to his age but after the first couple of missions they quickly died off. Ron's reputation as a proficient officer and combatant grew. Not one soldier who followed his orders was lost to combat the ones that didn't… lets just say Ron had to write several letters to parents and widows. After the end of official hostilities he was stationed in Kuwait were he underwent pilot training and was rated for various helicopters in the US' arsenal. Ron also volunteered his unit for various humanitarian missions "to keep us human" as he put it. Ron and his unit stayed in Iraq and Kuwait until 2005 and while being battered and bruised racked up quite a few more honors to go with his previous ones along with a promotion to major in 04.

05 was also the year Ron's father passed away. During his time home Ron thought it was time to switch to less kill oriented services and by the end of the year had managed to secure a short term transfer to a Navy Antarctic weather satellite station for the year. That year had been good for Ron, helping to right his head after war related issues emerged sending him into depression. Since all Ron had to do was make sure the equipment ran properly he was able to focus with his personal project by attending university online earning a master's degree in business management and computer science.

The remaining years saw Ron doing all manner duties, recruiting, training said recruits, various black ops. During this time Ron was starting to wind down. Even if his mom hadn't given him the bad news Ron had decided not to re-up after his current tour ended. Now with a firm and rounded base Ron was ready to start on his personal life.

Ron's resignation wasn't received well by his CO at first, but he understood. Colonel Makey decided to help Ron anyway they could hence the reason for Ron's promotion and permanent reassignment to Global Justice. Ron also saw this as an opportunity to make positive changes with in the organization, but it meant having to re-up and that left a sour taste in his mouth.

PRESENT TIME

After being home for two weeks Mrs. Stoppable's prognosis had gotten worse. Her time left was reduced from another 3 to 6 months down to 3 weeks if they were lucky. Ron had been going non stop making arrangements between family and friends comforting a despondent 13 year old and being ordered by his mother to leave now and again. Now he was jogging to clear his head and hoping the cell phone in his pocket wouldn't ring announcing his mother's time was near.

Pushing his thoughts aside Ron continued his refresher tour of Middleton. Most of the town was still the same, the high school had been refurbished. The mall was different now since the old one was destroyed by the lorwardians 12 years ago. Bueno Nacho still stood proud as always and by the looks of it Ned was the manager now. Main St. looked to be the model of small town america except for the bar at the corner, but it didn't matter.

Thinking it time for a breather Ron decided to go have a beer just to calm his frayed nerves. Upon entering Ron sat at the bar quietly taking in his surroundings. Being used to the dives he frequented around the world and various officers clubs set up in old hangars this place was like the Hotel Ritz. The floor was done in terracotta tile the bar was large square structure that housed 6 cash registers, round dark wood tables surrounded the area, the stools looked like tall captain's chairs with out the arms in the same wood as the tables the walls and bar were done in a rich red wood with natural oak accents. Sports memorabilia and large flat panel TVs were everywhere on the walls along with autographed pictures of famous people who had stopped in at one time or another and other pictures of memorable events and people who were apparently regulars. Behind Ron on the wall were pictures of children's sports teams that were sponsored by Richard's (The name of the pub) What caught Ron's attention at the wall was several pictures showed Hana in them. It brought a great deal of pride to know that the pictures that featured her were all championship teams.

"What can I get you handsome?" asked a brunette bartender sweetly.

"Just a beer please" Ron said staring at the stunning beauty before him. She was around his age, with very nice curves and playing to his pig personality very large breasts. She was wearing a faded pair of loose fitting blue jeans, and a black t-shirt. Her face showed the hard life she lived and the exhaustion of working too many double shifts and hoping the make up would cover it up. Still though Ron thought she was very beautiful.

"What kind hon? We got a lot of different brews" she said pleasantly

Ron fidgeted for a moment, when he drank it was usually what ever the locals drank plus he really hadn't had american spirits since he spent pretty much his entire adult life over seas so he was really flummoxed on what to order. "I'm not sure, what do you recommend?"

"Not a drinker huh" the waitress eyed him wearily

"No just not used to the alcohol here. I spent the last 12 years abroad and this is the first time drinking it" Ron said

The waitress chuckled "That's the first time I've heard that one. Tell you what, I'll suggest a Bud Ice and since it's your first it'll be on the house OK!"

"Nah, I don't want you to get in any trouble. I'll pay"

"No it's OK, my husband owns the place" the waitress said sitting the beer down in front of him.

"OK if your sure?"

The waitress didn't respond only smiled and walked away.

Ron waited for a few moments watching her walk away with her hips swaying side to side. Shaking himself from his perverted thought Ron started to bring the beer to his mouth when the unthinkable happened…

His cell phone rang

Picking up he quickly confirmed his fear sat his beer down dropped a twenty onto the bar and ran out the building as fast as his legs could carry him.

I hope nobody yells at me for what I did to Ron, but I wanted to show a grown up confident person he could be. Also I have to utmost respect for all the men and women in the Armed Forces and hope nobody will take offence to Ron's unorthodox training and rise in rank and achievement. I also don't want to demean their own achievements in any way and would like to point out this is a work of fiction and will probably never happen in real life.

Ron's Achievements

Afghanistan (2001-2003)

multiple personal and unit citations

1 Achievement Medal

1 Presidential Unit Citation

National Defense Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

2 Joint Services Commendation Medals Both with V distinction

Purple Heart

2 Bronze Stars with V distinction

1st Overseas Service Ribbon

Combat Action Ribbon with a V distinction

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal

Good Conduct Medal and 1st Hash Mark

Promotion to Captain of the USMC

Iraq (2003-2006)

2nd through 5th Overseas Service Ribbons

3 Bronze Stars with V distinction

1 Silver Star

Iraq Campaign Medal

2nd Purple Heart

Medal of Honor

3rd Joint Services Commendation Medal with V distinction

4 Humane Action Medals

2nd Good Conduct Medal and Hash Mark

Naval Aviator Wings

Marine Security Guard Ribbon

2ndMarine Corps Expeditionary Medal

2ndCombat Action Ribbon with a V distinction

1 Naval Cross

1 Meritorious Unit Commendation

1 Legion of Merritt Medal

Promotion to Major of the USMC

(2007-2011 present)

Antarctic Service Medal

Korean Service Medal

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

USMC Recruiter Ribbon

Drill Instructor Ribbon

NATO Medal

United Nations Service Medal

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

6th through 8th Overseas Service Ribbons

Promotion to Lt. Colonel of the USMC

Now being a member of Force Recon Ron is also a qualified parachutist, scuba diver as their badge reflects. During training Ron scored expert on rifles and marksman on pistols, but was later able to bring that up to sharp shooter. Ron's Training also took place from 1997 to 2000