Author's Note: I swear, this epilogue wasn't planned. But when an idea that you have writes itself, the least you can do is be the medium by which it is transfered into a form for the world to read.

Enjoy.

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The cracking thunder outside served to deafen the sound of the raindrops beating against the window. The storm made for an impressive spectacle to watch as the wind beat and blew against the trees, threatening to tear them out of their roots.

Ron Stoppable watched this fierce display of nature's power with a collected passiveness as he rocked back in his chair within his room in his home. Their home. It had been their home; he'd just been keeping it occupied this past year.

As an idle thought, Ron mused how simple his home was. Very few fancy electronic gadgets or devices, a stark contrast to the many modern homes. For someone who had spent so much of his life surrounded by some of the most impressive technological inventions of the day, Ron found he had little taste for such things. Flashy toys were for children, something he could watch his grand kids play with. He had little time for such things. He'd always been a very simple man in that regard.

His eyes wandered over to a nearby stand, and a picture of the two of them on their wedding day. God, how many ages ago had that picture been taken? They looked so young, so carefree. Of course, the passing decades had been far kinder to Kim Stoppable than to her husband since then. Ron had to smile at that. The years had never been anything but generous to her for as long as Ron had known her.

All those years ago, all those memories. Kim had been the best lover, the best friend, the best companion, the best wife that any man could have asked for. He had learned a long time ago to cherish every moment that they had had together, and he had. He truly had.

Ron's rapidly fading mental abilities were still able to recall the best moments shared between the two, as well as the worst, and he knew with all his heart he wouldn't trade the worst moments with Kim for another life time with anyone else.

Had it really only been a year?

She'd left so peacefully. He could still recall how devastated he'd been at the time. Bless the children and the grandchildren, they'd been so supportive. Always stopping in or calling up to check on him. If it hadn't been for them, and a promise he'd made so long ago to her, he probably wouldn't have gone on.

But Ron knew there was no sense in his expecting them to be there for him every second of every day, nor did he have any desire for them to be. They were still young; they had their whole lives ahead of them, while his was mostly behind him. He wasn't troubled by that. In fact, in the moment when that thought had first occurred to him, a remarkable sense of contentment had overtaken him.

He truly had no regrets. Just a casual stroll through his house littered with souvenirs and keep sakes from so many places served to remind him of a lifetime like no other. He'd been to so many places, seen so many things… of course the only reason why any of that meant anything to him was because she'd been there with him.

Ron snatched his cane up in hand, leaning on it for support as he stood, moving over to one of the shelves littered with photos of them. Pictures of him and Kim, their wedding, their children, their children's wedding, their grand children…god he was getting old.

He laughed at the thought. Now there was an understatement.

The pain hit his chest without warning. Ron tried to grasp at his own heart, as if he could somehow settle it. Stupid heart. Damn thing seemed like it was always objecting to his age. Ron felt himself leaning heavily on his cane, even as his spare hand pushed up against the wall for support. To his surprise, the attack passed rather suddenly. Had the miserable organ finally just had enough and decided to behave itself?

"Hello Ron." A familiar voice greeted warmly from off to his side. Ron turned about, smiling widely as he saw who it was.

"Didi! It's been a while." Ron paused for a moment in thought. "Wait a minute, does this mean…"

Ron turned around again for a moment, as he looked down upon his still, unmoving form lying on the ground, his hand resting over his chest.

"Oh." Ron said simply.

"Sorry Ron. Even a heart as big as yours has to give out sooner or later." She moved over to him, wrapping her right arm affectionately around his shoulders. "If it makes you feel any better, I've seen people leave worse."

"I look so… peaceful." Ron noted at the surprisingly content look on his face, at least for someone who had just died of a heart attack. "You'd almost think I was expecting it."

"We have to go you know." She explained softly.

Ron could only laugh as a though occurred to him. "You know, this is going to sound silly, but I was almost hoping we could spend another day together. I mean, I know that sounds selfish of me considering how rarely you get time off, but still."

"That's sweet. I would have liked that." She smiled at him.

Ron still couldn't contain his laughter as he went on. "I'm sorry, but the whole idea… I mean, I've been shot out by every different variation of a death ray you can think of" he paused to let out another barely suppressed chuckle before adding "and here I am, upset because I didn't live a full century till your next day off."

Ron had to burst out laughing at the thought. He couldn't contain his amusement.

"Oh goodness, a man my age laughing at death. You'd think after all my experience, I'd have more respect." Ron couldn't help but laugh again, until he noticed what he almost perceived to be a slight fluster in her face.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No, no." Ron assured, wiping a tear of laughter from his face. "I'm sorry. I just thought this would always be a solemn, silent, regretful moment, and here I am, laughing like I just spilled my milk." Ron let out another gasp, and this time it was infectious enough to drive a smile across her face.

"Come on Ron. If we don't get going, your wife is going to be mad at me for the rest of eternity, never mind what she'll do to you."

"Kim." Just the very thought of her put a warm smile on Ron's face, one that hadn't been seen in a year's time. As it did, the years seemed to melt off of Ron Stoppable. His white hair regained its golden youth, his skin turned a more youthful peach, even his freckles seemed more pronounced. "KP…"

"Let's go." She didn't have to say it again. Ron rushed right past her, leaving 'Didi' behind him… as he ran straight into Kim's waiting arms.

The End