As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. - John Paul II

Spider-Man.

Odd way to start a story, but that's a point of view for this. It all started with Spider-Man.

It wasn't really his fault. He came on the scene in a flashy costume with flashy powers, and people stopped noticing me a lot.

Then, something happened to my father, and he became like so many me and Ron battled… And he died fighting Spider-Man.

Again, it wasn't Spider-Man's fault; he didn't murder him, but my father is gone, and a part of my heart is still torn with his absence.

It's been three years, and I still miss him so much.

The world kept turning, and time kept going, but I had no idea how this new year would change my world more than I ever thought possible …

SPIDER-MAN:

THE RISE OF

THE FANTASTIC 4

Kim Possible rubbed her slightly pink nose as she brushed snow from the tombstone near the oak tree in Middleton Memorial Cemetery. "There you go, Dad," Kim said out loud when the last of the white powder was cleared from the marble. She then placed the bouquet of flowers at the base of the stone with her father's name "Norman James Possible" engraved above two dates.

"I just wanted to swing by and say Merry Christmas." Kim said as she stood up. "It's not the same without you telling us Christmas stories all the way to midnight …"

"Well, I better get going; don't want to be late for Christmas/Hanukkah. Mom and Mrs. S will have a fit if I'm late again this year. Bye, Daddy … I love you." She said, turning to walk out of the cemetery and on through the snow-covered sidewalks of Middleton.

"I hate the wind …" She said, clinging her green trenchcoat around her trembling body as her scarf whipped behind her, loosening the knot around her neck. Finally, the scarf unwrapped from her neck and flew through the air. "I hate that scarf!" Kim cursed as she dove after the cheap, light green, cloth scarf she'd bought from Smarty Mart. She finally gave up trying to catch it and dropped to her knees in the snow. "I hate winter … I hate cold … I hate my life …" Kim growled to herself.

Kim's life has been in a downward spiral for at least the past three years. Since her family almost fell into bankruptcy, she, her mother and brothers had been almost dirt poor with her mother's salary going almost entirely into paying back overdue loans and bills. And with her father being revealed as the mad criminal known as the Green Goblin, the missions and favors came to an abrupt stop, but the icing on the cake was with Ron living and working in Upperton, she seldom got to spend time with her life-long best friend.

"Hey, Red, chin up," a voice called from above her. "It's Christmas."

Kim looked up to see her reflection in a pair of reflective eye-pieces in a red and black webwork mask. "Spider-Man?"

"Long time no see, Kim," the Webslinger said as he flipped down from his webline and held out a hand to help the girl to her feet.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she took the proffered glove.

"Oh, just visiting family for the holidays and I saw you chasing this. Yours?" he asked, holding out the scarf with his other hand.

"Oh, thanks, yeah … I sorta lost it." Kim said, blushing slightly as she took it from his hand.

"Not a problem, stopping crazies in rhino costumes and saving beautiful girls' runaway scarves is just what I do," Spider-Man replied with a dramatic pose.

"Thanks anyway," She said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek through the mask.

"You know… Stoppable's in town, too." He said as she backed away. "With him being my unofficial photographer and all, we talk a bit… he's… missed you a lot."

"Really?" She asked, seemingly taken aback by the statement.

"He says you're the best friend he's ever had. Anyone would be a complete nut job not to miss someone like you," Spider-Man said, firing up a webline. "Need a ride to mom's place? I can swing you right on by."

"Na, I think I'll walk. I have to stop and pick up something first." Kim said with a smile. "Thanks anyway."

"You be careful and have a bon-diggity Christmas, Red," Spider-Man said as he swung away.

"You too, Spidey," Kim sighed, letting the smile fade as she continued to drag her feet toward her best friend's mother's home.

(4)

Kim made it home and was a bit surprised to see two new faces in the Stoppable/Possible home. There was, of course, her mom and Ron's "Hey, sis!" Her twin brothers Jim and Tim bellowed in unison as they came storming toward her. But the ones that caught her attention were two men talking happily with Ron and his girlfriend Gwen Stacy.

"Oh, Kimmie, you made it!" Anne Possible came into the room and hugged her daughter. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." Anne said, smiling in a way Kim hadn't seen since before her father died.

"Huh?" Kim asked as Anne grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the two men. "Wait … Brick?" Kim said, surprised. She'd never seen the former quarterback without Bonnie Rockwaller attached. "You shaved your head?" Kim blinked at the football player from her graduating class.

"Yeah, Reed twisted my arm into showing. As for the hair, I lost a bet with Moni." Brick said, running a hand over his scalp.

"Who's Reed?" Kim blinked, still confused.

"My boyfriend!" Anne said with a huge grin.

The gears in Kim's brain came to a screeching halt with her mother's last statement. "I'm sorry?" Kim blinked.

"Kimmie, this is Reed Richards; he's a scientist at the space center," Anne introduced the lanky man, who seemed more than a bit familiar. "He's a widower, too, He's helped me a lot in dealing with your father's death, and I've helped him deal with his family's passing."

Kim's head began to swim slightly. "We've been dating for almost a year now. I've been looking forward to you coming home, so I could surprise you! I know how often you find time to get away from Lowerton."

"It's great to finally meet you, Kim," Reed Richards took Kim's hand and shook it warmly. The man looked as if he was around the same age as her late father with neat, brown hair with graying sideburns.

"Hey, KP!" Ron grinned as he moved in to give the shell-shocked redhead a hug. "How ya been?" He smiled warmly at her.

"Fine …" Kim replied on autopilot as Gwen joined them.

"Hey, Kim," Gwen smiled at the girl. "We've got a Christmas/Hanukkah present for you too. You get a choice: do you want to be Ron's Best Man, or Best Woman as the case may be, or my Maid of Honor?" Gwen grinned, showing off a ring with a modest diamond.

Now the room was officially spinning. Kim felt bile start to rise in her throat. Her mother was dating some guy, and Ron, her Ron, was getting married. Kim was beginning to wonder when the Stoppable living room got so small and tight.

"I … oh, I forgot … I gotta …" Kim stammered, moving toward the front door. "I need… I forgot … I … um … I … I'll be back in a few …" Kim said as she quickly left the surprised family.

"What's up with her?" Brick blinked, glancing among the twins.

"I'll go after her," Ron said, starting toward the door, but was stopped by Kim's mother.

"No, I'll talk to her," She said with a sad frown. She nodded to Reed before going after her daughter.

"Well then … who's for Christmas Stories?" Reed grinned sheepishly.

(4)

Kim ran for some time and surprised herself when she came to a stop in front of Bueno Nacho. The sign lit in neon green read "Open twenty four/seven" beckoned her in, and she glanced around the empty dining area.

She numbly walked to the familiar booth -their booth- before plopping down and simply staring at the table.

She blinked when a tray of nacos appeared in front of her. She blinked and looked up to see a red-headed young man around her age smiling at her. "I didn't order anything."

"No, but I did, and it's my break," he smiled a sideways smile. "Ordered a bit much, though. I was hoping you'd be hungry, so I could clean my tray." He held out his hand. "Frankie Raye, and you are… pretty? Cutie?"

"Kim," Kim said flatly.

"I was close, Kimmie," Frankie said sitting down across from her. "So, what's bugging you?"

"No idea what you're talking about …" Kim said, reluctantly taking a burrito. Frankie cocked an eyebrow. "Ok, my life seems to keep getting worse and worse, ok? Happy? Why the heck am I even talking to you? I don't even know you!"

"I've served you and Ron since I started here when we were all in ninth grade," Frankie smirked at Kim's dumbfounded look. "Ron knows me; we were a lot a like. Both freaky geeks, I just wasn't lucky enough to get your attention before popularity got yours, KP." Frankie sat back. "Let me guess: you're upset because Ron's engaged and living in Upperton, your mom is dating another guy, and your hero career is in the toilet?" Kim blinked twice. "Two blinks mean yes?"

"How …" Kim forced out.

"I'm observant," Frankie winked, "Your mom and a new guy have been coming in here a lot together, holding hands and playing footsy under the table, you know, couple stuff. I know, TMI, but anyway, Ron was in here yesterday with a blond girl sporting a rather noticeable ring on her finger, and finally, I haven't seen your exploits on the news in a very long time."

"Am I that transparent?" Kim asked bowing her head.

"Nah, the red hair and pale skin makes it a little hard to see through, not even to go through the clothes." Frankie noted, earning a small giggle from the young woman.

The door chime sounded, and Frankie glanced back to see Kim's mom looking for her. "Looks like you and your mom have some girl-time to kill," He said, scribbling a name and number on a napkin. "If you ever want to talk or something, give me a call. This is my cell number, and I always have it with me."

"Thanks, Frankie," Kim gave a grateful smile as she placed the napkin in her pocket while Frankie went to dispose their meal.

"Can I sit down?" Anne asked as she approached her daughter, the most timid Kim had ever seen her.

"Free country, Mom," Kim tried to joke, but it came out dryly. Anne silently sat down and stared at her lap.

"I'm sorry," Anne whispered just loud enough for Kim to hear. "I should have thought you might have gotten upset about me and Reed. And I tried to get Gwen to hold off on her little surprise, but … oh, Kimmie, I am so sorry."

"A little warning would have been nice … from you AND Ron," Kim stated, brushing some hair from her face.

"Would it have made it any easier for you?" Anne asked curiously.

"Probably not, but it sounds good on paper …" Kim grumbled into her hands.

"I'm not asking you to start calling him 'dad,' or to even consider him anything remotely like your father," Anne said, reaching over and taking Kim's hands. "but … Kimmie, I've been so lonely without your father, and … Reed's smart, funny, and charming in his own geeky way."

"I'm not making any promises, but … I'll try to get to know him, ok?" Kim said after a moment's pause.

"Now … about Ron and ..." Anne started, but was cut off by Kim jerking her hands from hers and crossing her arms.

"The bitch. I don't like this; she's just using him to get reports on Spider-Man," Kim growled.

"I don't recall her writing much about Spider-Man in the paper, Kimmie," Anne said carefully. "And even if it is true, isn't marrying the man going a bit far?"

"This wouldn't have anything to do with what happened after your father's funeral?" Anne asked carefully, but gulped as Kim's mouth fell open.

"Did Ronald tell you about that?" Kim hissed, starting to rise, but Anne jumped out and grabbed her arms, pulling her back down.

"No! No, Ron didn't say a thing. I watched you two walked off and kinda eavesdropped. I'm sorry, but I was worried about you two and just wanted to make sure you were ok." Anne said in a rushed tone.

"I poured my heart out to him, Mom." Kim said, her eyes tearing up. "I told him I loved him … he wasn't supposed to turn his back like he did …"

"This isn't the movies, Kimmie. Sometimes, it works; sometimes, it doesn't," Anne said consolingly. "I know it's hard, and it will be hard for some time, but you have to accept that he only sees you as his friend, and maybe… he loves Gwen like you love him. And maybe Gwen will make him happy. If you really love him, Kimmie, you want him to be happy, right?"

"That doesn't mean I have to like it," Kim sniffled.

"No, it doesn't; you don't even have to like Gwen, but best friends may be the best you can have with him," Anne gave a small smile, "I know it isn't fair, but it's really a 'take it or leave it' situation." Anne then glanced to the boy at the counter. "Besides you may have another prospect. I admit it might be settling for second best, but the young man you were talking to when I came in isn't that bad …"

"Mother! Not so loud." Kim hissed with a flush.

"He's too busy to hear us anyway," Anne waved her hand dismissively.

"C'MON! MY FRANKINESS CAN OUT PERFORM THE RON FACTOR ANY DAY! OBSERVE!" He said loudly to the women's table before cramming several nacos into his mouth and swallowing them whole, earning applause from his coworkers.

"Anyway, why don't you come with me and Reed next weekend?" Anne said, ignoring the show. "He's taking his experimental space plane into orbit to see New Year's from space. Why don't you come with us? It'll give you time to get to know him better and get your mind off the blondes." Anne didn't receive an answer. "Kimmie?" she glanced up to see her laughing at Frankie's demonstration. "Not that you need to." she said with a small smile.

Neither of the women nor anyone else in Bueno Nacho for that matter noticed the red-and-blue figure outside the window, narrowing his eyes slightly under his mask at the BN employee. "Outperform the Ron Factor?" Spider-Man mumbled as he swung away. "As if."

(4)

Kim and Anne returned with smiles on their faces. Kim's was a little forced, but not as bad as it was earlier. "Welcome back," Brick and Gwen greeted as they all looked up from Reed's story.

"Where's Ron?" Kim asked glancing around.

"He went to pick up some more chips and dip," Gwen explained.

"I'm sure it wasn't anything for him to swing by the store," Anne said, taking a seat next to her boyfriend.

"I'm back!" Ron said, running in the back door with a grocery bag, "Baby, it's cold outside," He shivered.

"You need to bundle up more, Ronnie," Gwen said, taking the grocery bag from him. "Your hands are like ice." She said with concern.

"I'm just Frankie," Ron said offhanded, earning a surprise glance from Kim and confused looks from everyone else.

"What?" Kim asked with a tilted head.

"I said I'm just fine," Ron blinked.

"You said you're just Frankie." Kim cocked an eyebrow.

"Hmm, weird, must have just slipped, cold tongue, ya know?" Ron grinned. Everyone but Kim shrugged dismissively while she just narrowed her eyes.

"Kimmie's coming with us next weekend for the New Year's flight, hon," Anne said, touching Reed's arm.

"Oh, really? I was really hoping you would, Kim. I was really hoping to get to know you. I know if you're anything like your mother, we'll get along famously. Plus, having a real-life hero on-board will make me feel a lot better." Reed said excitedly

"I'm not really a hero anymore," Kim said, her shoulders drooping slightly.

"Once a hero, always a hero, KP," Ron smiled, patting her back.

"So, who's up for Christmas Carols?" Gwen spoke up, moving in between Kim and Ron and hugging his arm.

The family and friends began singing old time favorites, totally unaware of the odd, multicolored rays flying fatefully through space towards Earth.

To Be Continued…