Hey everyone! It's been awhile... again. Okay, I'm sorry but things should ACTUALLY be going quite regular again from here on in. I hope everyone's still wanting to continue the story! I know I sure want to get this done. S4 just started here in Canada, the first week just flew by! One more week of new episode until we have to wait for May for the rest! It's really helped me to get the feel of the characters again. Anyway, time to thank the reviewers for taking the time to give me their thoughts on the latest instalment! It means a LOAD to me- hearts to you all!
Thanks to: zero9q9, CajunBear73, qtpie235, captainkodak1, Shadowlost, Johnny Mac, Ace Ian Combat, John M. Steppenwolf, LJ Fan, Rachel J. Lupin, Razzle Jazzle, Cold-Chaos, Redzin Himself, Meca Vegeta, nakasumisan24 (Long time no talk INDEED. great to see you around again!), Bear & Loo.
-A. King
¤ Instalment 04 »» "Congratulations!" -Missions Series II a. & II b.- ¤
Come on, even if you make a mistake again and again
No pain is for nothing
There's only one thing we can do
We can do what we put our minds to, that's the only thing that's true.
-Sifow, 'Don't Stop'
Stepping down the wooden stairs from the veranda, Kim shielded her eyes from the searing sun blazing overhead. Wincing, she brought up a hand to shield her eyes from the sun's vibrant rays heating her. Squinting, she searched through the lack of scenery for Ron; she knew he was out here somewhere…
It was the morning after their lovely beetle-catching adventure. Kim had awoken first in a flush when she found Ron to be sound asleep with his head nestled onto her chest, an arm cast over her stomach. With the wonderful feeling of the bed, him and the golden flow of sunlight streaming through the window, Kim had no desire to awaken. But when she ventured for the time, she realised they had better be readying themselves to be prepared when Professor Akari arrived to pick up his beetle and drop them off in the city.
So Kim had gently awoken Ron reluctantly. He seemed a little bemused at first so she questioned if he was okay or whether he was still in any sort of pain; the drugs would have worn off by then. Apparently he was sore in his arm, like a massive bruise, but otherwise he would be okay until he arrived back in Middleton as long as he had the tight bandage around his arm.
Neither of them yearned to change back into their dirty mission wear after that soothing shower each of them had taken the night before, so, still in the pyjamas, Kim brought their clothes to the shower for a quick, basic clean. It didn't matter that the clothes were a little damp after doing the clean—they both knew their clothes would dry immediately after stepping outside.
While Kim primed the bed, making sure everything was as they arrived and packed their belongings (including the beetle still glowering in his jar), she sent Ron to wait outside for the Professor. Presently, Kim continued to scan the bungalow's desert front-yard for Ron.
Then there: if it hadn't been for his darkened mission clothes, his otherwise brightly lit blonde hair and pale skin turning a pure white against the intense sun would have camouflaged him into the light and dirt-yellow scenery all around. Ron was sitting on a rock beneath a bare, perhaps even dead, tree.
"Hey," Kim called out, raising a hand to him.
From what she could see of Ron, he wasn't looking at her, but appeared delighted towards something else and as Kim grew closer, she realised he was more than just simply delighted. He had a grin on his face, so genuine, it spread from ear to ear and he laughed— his voice musical to Kim's ears. As he laughed, he lightly turned his head to one side and his bangs swept through the air for the light to catch each bang causing it to glitter against the sun.
"Kim!" he said light-heartedly. "Shh, come here, but be careful."
"Careful?" Kim asked, perplexed. "What do you mean care—oh!"
Only when she approached Ron did she realise why Ron appeared to be so thrilled. The initial shock caused her to hang back when she saw all the bright yellow butterflies surrounding him and the tree. They were all over him, resting on his hair, shoulders, knees, on his arms and fluttering all around him; the rest loitering around the tree behind him. Because of their colour, Kim hadn't even noticed them, they, as Ron nearly had, blended in with their surroundings.
"Based on last night, I didn't think you liked insects," Kim spoke with dry amusement, taking a seat on a smaller rock next to Ron.
Ron giggled as a butterfly fluttered near his cheek. "Not these!" he insisted, "They're butterflies, Kimbo. Aren't they adorable? And look! They like me!"
"I think they think your hair is a flower of some sorts," Kim retorted playfully. She couldn't help but smile at Ron, so blissful in front of her. He needed to feel this way after being shot in the arm yesterday.
Ron held out his arms, with butterflies resting on his palms. He gently brought a palm close to observe the little butterflies. Then, grinning, he stretched out his hand towards Kim, "Wanna hold some?"
"Mm," Kim smiled politely and held up her hands, "No thanks."
"Oh, c'mon, Kim, these are nice bugs. Not like those creepy crawlies from yesterday… These ones are pretty."
"Well, okay," she nodded, reaching out, she allowed Ron to lay a yellow butterfly in Kim's palm. The butterfly, persuaded by Ron, reluctantly crawled onto Kim's gloved palm and lightly flexed its wings.
"Oh..." Kim murmured when she took a closer look at the butterfly. It wasn't just yellow as so she discovered when taking upon a closer inspection. The butterfly had a beautiful, yellow and golden ornate pattern upon its fragile wings. "They really are beautiful."
She gasped again when two more came over from Ron and one from the tree to flutter around her and inspect the newcomer. Ron laughed as Kim recoiled by instinct when one attempted to land on her hair but upon her abrupt movement, it decided to seek rest on Ron instead. Seeing its friend do so, the others flutter over to Ron, including the one in her palm.
Kim chuckled, "I guess they just like you better." Lifting her head to the sun, she winced again from the heat and stood up. "Look, since our ride isn't here yet, I'm going to go wait inside. My scalp is way fried from yesterday and I don't wish to add to that displeasure." Kim turned her arm inwards and poked at her bare skin, wondering if a burn would already start, the sunscreen yesterday had helped a lot.
"Sure, we'll hang out here." Then he laughed again as two more came to flutter in his face as if jealous and attempting to steal his attention away from Kim and direct it back onto themselves much in the manner of bratty children.
Kim shook her head, amused and headed back to the bungalow where she took seat in an armchair seated by the window to watch for the truck that would be picking them up. From her seat in front of the window, she could just make out Ron's outline of his black mission sweater against the strengthened sun, it nearly rendered Ron invisible.
What a time they had spent here in Australia. Well, okay, maybe it wasn't quite the 'recovery' from their last trip to Australia to help 'cure' Ron of his Australian-skittishness. But at least none of it was her doing (not that she didn't feel guilty about him being shot, that she felt immensely guilty). But then… if she hadn't had pulled Ron when she did, the bullet wouldn't have hit him in the arm. No, it would have hit him straight in the head. Kim breathed out a long, slow, steady breath at that thought. Glancing outside again, she saw Ron cringe with pleasure as a brood of butterflies fluttered down from the tree and into his face. A small smile crossed Kim's face.
Kim had it all and she was content knowing this. She had Ron, and they had the world. They could go anywhere and do anything, just the two of them.
As it always was. And nothing will ever get in our way.
Near the window, just shy of the sun within the shade, Kim leaned back against the sofa-chair and closed her eyes feeling small speckles of sunshine sprite around her closed eyelids. She rested there, a feeling of immense devotion swirling inside her chest, for the longest time until the sound of honking came from outside.
Perking up, Kim brushed some of her long auburn hair out of her eyes and stood up, peering out the window. There was Professor Akari rumbling up the desert in his jeep, continuing to honk the jeep's horn to signal his arrival.
Grinning, Kim nearly fled from the bungalow when she abruptly halted right before stepping outside. She faltered and leaned back, looking down, then around. She gave the quaint, little house one last longing look. There was a compelling force to… to what? Linger here? Was that the word? With Ron of course… Yes, for a longer period of time…
If only.
Giving herself a dissatisfied smirk, Kim reluctantly turned on her heels and continued out the door. Again, she shielded her vision from the sun as she ran up to Akari's jeep, pulling up in the front 'yard'.
Placing her hands on her hips, Kim greeted the professor and checked that Ron was saying a final farewell to his little friends.
"Here's the beetle for you, Professor," Kim said kindly, pulling out the Australian Golden Beetle's jar from within her backpack. She held up the large jar for the Professor to look inside. He adjusted his glasses and blinked several times. Then a large smile crossed his face.
"Oh, thank-you once again, Kim Possible! This is the exact little guy that escaped from me before." Professor Akari took the jar from Kim and secured the beetle in the trunk of the vehicle with other insects squirming in their travel cases. Kim was glad Ron was only just approaching when Akari shut the trunk.
"Shall I drive you to the city now?"
"Please and thank-you!" Kim replied enthusiastically. As much as there was a small desire within her to stay in this retreat with Ron, there was an even greater desire to change into clean clothes.
Ron had left his friends behind, now all gathered around the tree, and hopped into the back of the jeep; Kim taking the front seat next to the Professor.
As the jeep rumbled back the way it came, bumping and rattling over the rough terrain, Kim made chit-chat with the Professor until a conversation died down. Taking advantage of this to check on Ron, Kim rested an arm on the back of her seat and twisted around to speak to him.
"So Ron, were your little friends a little disappointed you had to leave them behind?" she teased, grinning with all pearly whites. But then that grin faded when she registered Ron's expression.
He was sitting right behind her, his hands upon his lap and staring down at the seat in front of him; it looked like his mind was lost in thought. This could be true for his expression seemed extremely troubled.
"Ron? Planet Kim beaming Planet Spaced-Out, is anyone home?" This received no response from Ron, so: "Ron, there's a bug on your hair."
"WHA?!"
Ron immediately leapt in his seat, his seatbelt restraining him.
Kim gave a wry smirk this time, "Just kidding." (Ron sent her a scowl, to which she noticed.) "Hey, none of that. What's up? Just feeling a little groggy from yesterday or what?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, withdrawing.
Kim tilted her head at his submissive actions. "I mean you looked a little down, hey," Kim lowered his voice, even though she knew Professor Akari could still hear. "Ron, are you okay?"
The smile was faint and he didn't exactly look her directly in the eyes when he replied, "Sure, Kimbo. Like you said, I'm groggy from yesterday."
Kim nodded sympathetically, still not completely sure whether or not she should believe him. Her Ron-installed instinct told her not, but she regressed anyway. Whatever was bothering him, he would also be slightly fog-headed from yesterday's events. Although the drugs would have probably worn off overnight, Ron could still be feeling some of the after effect.
"You'll get a nice, long rest when we get back to Tri-City," Kim commented. "That is, if you don't have somewhere else to be." She said this as neutral as possible, meaning his billion plus ten jobs he was keeping a secret.
"I might," he mumbled, more to himself than to anyone else.
Kim literally perked up at his response but he didn't notice, what with his head hanging glumly. Her eyes wandered as she processed the contemplation of having Ron leave her again for entire days, returning once again only at night for a few hours of sleep. Being out here in the outback with Ron, spending the night at the bungalow, had erased Kim's memory of such a time. She hadn't thought Ron would be going back to that temporary lifestyle.
Well, he never said it was temporary. He just said it being a secret was temporary.
She bit her lower lip, frowning. Looking back at Ron, she reached out and gave him a rub underneath his chin, lifting his head.
Kim opened her mouth to pass on some word of comfort to Ron when at that moment a massive shadow passed over the jeep and a loud thunk indicated something had hit the jeep's hood. Professor Akari slammed on the breaks.
Whirling, around, Kim gasped when she saw that it hadn't been something hitting the jeep's hood, but someone landing on the jeep's hood. A female warrior dressed more like a ninja, long legs and long brown hair held in a ponytail high above her head thrust a finger at Kim Possible.
"Hand over the Australian Golden Beetle!" the fearless warrior commanded with a spat. In a flash, she whipped out a pair of katanas— the sun striking the blades to create a bright, white glow masking Kim's vision.
The Professor trembled, trying to slide himself down in his seat.
Kim and Ron merely glared with intense exasperation beyond anything anyone could ever hope to imagine.
-ø-
The air outside was a strikingly noticeable contrast compared to the constant, claustrophobic heat of Australia. The month was February and while it had felt like July to Ron in the Country Where Murphy's Law Prevails (as Ron so called Australia), he was once again reminded that winter still flowed all around nipping his exposed skin and reddening his nose. It was a relief to finally walk into the mall, pulling off his mittens and stuff them into his jacket pocket.
He had wanted to go back to Kim's dorm first, perhaps have himself a rest again, but he had business at the Tri-City mall after Kim had taken him to the campus nurse to have her take a look at his bullet-wound. There wasn't much she could do other than offer more pain killers and apply a more professional bandage. He'd heal.
Currently, Ron scanned the mall nervously. Hopefully they were still holding it for him.
Ron Stoppable could not believe it was now February the fifteenth! How could he have missed that important date?! Kim must be thoroughly disappointed with him. Heck, he was shocked she didn't have a flame-out with him that morning. Kim was acting as she usually did, which told Ron he had made a big mistake because if she wasn't showing her rage by yelling, then she must be…
Really, really hurt…he thought morosely. Gosh, she must think I don't care for her at all… I completely missed all those signs she said she gave me and then I go and work my ass of and completely forget! He winced and shut his eyes briefly in his walk. HOW, Stoppable? How could I have forgotten? That kinda timing romance junk is important to a girl!
Ron knew he had forgotten because he had been so overwhelmed by his jobs. No, overwhelmed wasn't even the word—he had been consumed by his jobs. They had swallowed him up and sucked out all of his energy. Ron had never worked so hard in his entire life and was still sleep-deprived. He had been living on half a brain at the time (well, less than the usual half a brain he operated on) and it caused him to forget all about the special date.
Ron sighed.
On the ride back to Tri-City, after dealing with ninja-lady and a group of henchmen from someone Kim and Ron had never heard of, then Professor Dementor's henchmen then another poacher and two more warriors (all in the days work of a crime fighting teen and her sidekick), on the airplane ride, Ron contemplated his sitch. He had even thought about whether or not he should propose to Kim anymore.
Not meaning I never would. Just mean, like, now. This year. Maybe I should wait until next V-Day. She'd probably forget and forgive about this one and be all happy cos I proposed to her on the day. Or…
Or Kim could totally hold the grudge against him and only be enraged at his nerve for waiting until next Valentine's Day.
Darnit, Kimbo, why do you wanna get married now anyway? We're still young. Not that, like, I'm interested in being with anyone else but… ergh. You're making this crazy on me.
But it all boiled down to the hefty deposit Ron had made on the engagement ring he had personally selected for Kim. If Ron didn't fork over the cash within the week, the ring would be for sale again and he'd lose all of that personal cash he had scrounged for to reserve the ring.
As Ron headed to the jeweller's, he passed the pet store where he had worked. Ron had resigned now that he had enough money for the ring, as he had with all of his jobs. There was no need for him to continue living like a zombie. Sure, it raked in a lot of cash, but he could always go to his parents if he needed anything. The ring, however, had to come from him. That and his parents might've flipped out when he asked for the money. It was by no means a cheap ring.
The thought of Kim's face when she saw it lit a smile on Ron's. Hopefully she'd be in such a revere from the gorgeous diamond to remember it wasn't Valentine's Day anymore.
Ron passed Valentine's Day signs the store owner's had been too lazy to take down, like all the other holidays. Ron peered curiously into a card store that he walked past. The store was nearly exploding with pinks and reds still. He thought about purchasing a card, did one purchase a card for proposals too?
I hope not cos I dunno if my wallet can take even a buck-priced card! Isn't a ring enough for a girl?
When he entered the jeweller's, he headed straight for an employee bringing up his deposit on the ring, revealing his receipt. (Ron had checked that it was in his wallet every day.) Even though nothing should go wrong, Ron still caught himself holding his breath as the prim, middle-aged, female employee checked his receipt. Telling him she'd return, she disappeared into the back while Ron pulled out his bank card, ready to make the payment.
"Is this the one?" she asked, pulling out a small velvet case. Of course she knew it was the right one, she was only making sure Ron knew it too.
Opening the case, the employee revealed to Ron the exact one he had selected from the countless others. When he had laid his eyes open it, Ron knew for certain this was the ring for Kim. The band was silver, intricately woven and coiled meeting one another together in the center with a diamond shaped like a heart.
"Yup," he breathed, just imagining Kim wearing it. "That's it."
They carried out their business; the employee brought Ron to the till, he paid for it and kept the receipt. With the ring safely in its velvet box within a bag, Ron buried in deeply and carefully into the bottom of his backpack and left the mall.
He had the ring.
But that didn't mean he had to propose to her yet.
Ron returned to Kim's dorm, parking his motorbike in his own parking space. The girls of the sorority had been kind enough to offer him one of their spaces; mostly because they had the space to spare. They weren't overly kind to him, but nor did they seem to dislike his presence. If anything, they were all indifferent to it and couldn't care less. Just so long as he didn't invite any 'friends' to party. It was their house after all. Besides, for some reason, Ron received the impression that the girls understood Kim and Ron came as a pair. Well, everyone but Bonnie.
In fact, he passed her as he headed up the stairs. She took notice of him and sent him a glare that just spilled over with hatred for his being here. Ron didn't know what he had ever done to Bonnie to make her hate him so much but quite frankly, he didn't care. Just so long as she left him alone. And Kim. It really did kind of hurt when people called him a 'loser' and demeaned Kim for being with him. He thought of the ring inside his backpack; he knew he shouldn't care what other people thought but…
Maybe it'd be better if I propose to her after we graduate from University. Then we won't have to deal with any of these guys badgering her. Not for me, but for Kimbo. What if she gets ridiculed and stuff for being engaged to me? What if they kick her out of the sorority?! Or… or the cheer squad?! Kim would go nuts about that! But I know… I know she still wouldn't be mad at me
Should he put Kim in a position like that?
When Ron came through Kim's bedroom door, walking slightly hunched forwards from his glum state of mind, he recoiled slightly and blinked several times. Observing from just in front of the doorway, Ron could see Kim rustling around the room and stuffing things into her backpack.
Grabbing the doorknob, Ron gently closed the door behind him and walked further into the room. "Goin' somewhere?" Ron prodded, placing his pack on the floor next to his suitcase.
"Yea."
"Oh?" Ron hadn't exactly expected a yes to that question.
"You too."
"Are we?" Then he said teasingly, "Are we eloping or something?"
Kim lifted up her backpack and heaved it onto her bed, wiping her brow. Ron couldn't help but smirk slightly, even if her mind was worlds away, his was thinking how she looked good no matter how flustered she appeared to be.
"Nope. Mission."
"Another mission?" Ron was instantly stunned. They hadn't even recovered from The Country That Hated All Rons. "Don't they ever just, like, take a break or somethun'?"
"Guess not," Kim shrugged and zipped up her backpack. Then she headed to her drawers where she pulled out her famous mission wear.
"We're not going far this time," Kim replied.
"Not somewhere hot again, I hope."
"On the contrary, cold."
"Well I didn't mean that unhot," Ron snorted. "Where to?"
" Washington state, some mountains, apparently this time it's super villain action again."
"Ah," Ron replied simply, lying down upon Kim's bed. He watched her close the door behind herself as she went into the bathroom to change. "I was wondering when those guys were gonna do something again. They've been slacking lately if you ask me."
From behind the bathroom door, Ron could hear Kim's dry laughter but this time it only left the slightest trace of a smile on his face. Sighing heavily, all his mind could focus on was his big decision. It was an agonising guilt that ate at his flesh in the very depths of his stomach. Just thinking of it again caused the feeling to churn inside of him and pump his adrenaline.
Groaning, Ron covered his eyes with his palms and although he ceased his vision, he could not cease those accusing thoughts of neglecting Valentine's Day. Shaking his head, he felt like he had failed Kim.
The one day of the year he was supposed to propose to Kim and he had forgotten. Ron thought about perhaps telling her immediately, it was only just the day after Valentine's Day, perhaps there was room for forgiveness and yet at the same time it totally broke The Rules.
Yes, Ron's The Rules were still very much in affect as they applied to all times. And one of these Rules were that women did not forget and they most certainly did not forgive easily.
Yet she doesn't seem to be holdin' much of a grudge, Ron mused as he took a peek at the bathroom door from the corner of his eye. Or maybe I'm walking on eggshells right now and she's pulling one of those 'friendly on the outside but mad as all hell on the inside' women things.
Man, Ron thought sourly, resting his hands on his stomach. Rufus crawled over to Ron and sat, hunched, by his face. This proposing stuff totally sucks. If she wants to get married so badly, why doesn't she just ask me? Heck, I'd say yes any day of the year. Doesn't matter what day it is to me, hey, if that means we get to finally—
"Okay."
Ron shot up and nearly threw himself forwards off the bed in his start. "Okay!?"
"Yea," Kim didn't even appear to notice Ron's freak when she walked out of the bathroom in her mission clothes. She stored away the pair she had just changed out of into her drawers. Without even looking at Ron, she said casually, "Time for you to suit up and then we can get going. We have to take some special bus that'll eventually take us to the airport. If we miss this bus, it'll be another two hours until we can go stop DNAmy."
"DNAmy?" Ron mumbled. Walking up to Kim, she handed him his mission clothes, again, without even looking at him and this he noticed. "Wasn't she…"
"Yes, yes," Kim replied hurriedly, waving Ron away, "The Cuddle Buddies woman, that's her."
Ron chuckled, his head poking out of the bathroom door as he grinned. "I'll bet you'll be excited waiting to see what new additions she has to her Cuddle Buddy collection!"
A well-aimed sock ushered Ron into the bathroom to change.
-ø-
Ron was thankful for the bus ride, and for Kim's thoughtfulness. The long ride allowed Ron to catch up on his sleep, the greyed rain clouds above furthering his passive state of mind. As Ron had been beginning to doze off, his head tilted onto the window plane just beginning to splatter with random raindrops, Kim pulled from within her bag, a blanket. Spreading it out, she wrapped it around Ron and he gave her a faint smile of gratitude before easily falling asleep.
On the plane right to Washington, Ron fell asleep again and when he awoke for the hike to their mountain destination, he was well rested and pumped for taking on the villains and their henchmen. (Well, pumped and ready to leap out of the way as Kim dealt with the villains and their henchmen.)
"So, lemme refresh," Ron commented as he trotted after Kim up the short mound. "This is DNAmy and what's she doing out here? Man, is she pulling another mutant beast thing because I'm so totally déjà vu-ing from the last time we added DNAmy, mountains, snow and –YEA. That reminds me. We're not wearing our winter jackets why?" And Ron shivered, rubbing his exposed arms.
"Because I didn't know there would be snow up here," Kim retorted.
"H'mm… so… mountain… winter… And yet no snow? Okay, I don't exactly—"
"Augh, Roooooooon," Kim groaned, purely aggravated. "We won't be walking for much longer, you can see the factory right there."
"What's she got a factory for?" Ron asked, looking again at the large, industrial, grey building just behind some pine trees decked in snow up ahead. It was nearly invisible even so close for its colour matched that of the sullenly, monochrome sky just inches above Ron's head. "Do we have any details at all here?"
Kim reached for the Kimmunicator and did some clicking. Finally, she shrugged, not the answer Ron had been aspiring for. "Not really. I'm completely out of the loop. We'll just go and see for ourselves and we'll handle it whatever seems necessary."
"I hope you aren't planning on knocking on the door this time."
This earned an embarrassed smirk from Kim as she again pocketed the Kimmunicator, "No. We know she's up to no-good, that's invite enough to enter through vents."
Ron paused, nonplussed. He turned and headed back in the direction they had came.
"Ron!!" Kim squealed, ploughing after him through the snow. Catching up, she snagged his shoulder, he sighed and didn't resist. "Don't back out on me, are you serious?"
"I feel like it," he grumbled. "I feel like we just did vents yesterday."
"Yesterday we were in a tree trunk. Oh! Oh and in a flooded thicket of prickly bushes. Totally different! First entrance and we're out of the vents, mmkay?"
"Fine, fine."
"Badical."
Ron raised a single eyebrow at Kim's mention of his word and was pleased to see Kim give an embarrassed smile in return. From there, Kim led the way through the snow towards that factory. Whatever business DNAmy was conducting, they would find out soon enough.
If it weren't for the thick snow surrounding their feet, they would have been able to reach the factory a lot faster. What took them nearly half an hour should have only been ten minutes to reach the base of the foreboding industrial factory. It didn't help that the snow easily soaked through his grey, canvas pants and made his legs cold.
Ron shivered, holding his bare arms and craned his neck back fully to gaze up at the towering walls. Visible breath unfurled itself from Ron's mouth and he shivered, but whether from the actual cold or from the factory's foreign and foreboding presence, even he didn't know.
"Doesn't even feel like we're in America. Feels like were' in Russia or something. If it were Russia, I bet you would have remembered to bring our jackets."
Kim heaved a sigh at Ron's shot, her own breath forming thickly from her deep sigh. "Thanks, Ron, I'll keep that in mind. Now, do you see any vents?"
"There," Ron pointed, speaking solemnly. Kim was near the other side of the wall and trotted through the snow around her mid-calves towards Ron and looked up. It was really high up, she herself probably wouldn't have spotted it.
"See? You're growing a knack for vents," she teased.
Ron said nothing and looked behind himself. "How're we getting up there? There aren't any trees nearby."
Reaching into her back, Kim pulled out her grappling hook hairdryer. "What do you think," she smirked, toying with the grappling hook in front of Ron's face.
"Well, I dunno," Ron replied thickly, rolling his own eyes, "I thought maybe you'd have forgotten that t—"
"Could you just PLEASE let that go?!" Kim cried with indignation, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Ron laughed silently to himself, very pleased with Kim's reaction. Kim just shook her head at him. "On the bright side," she said, sounding as if she was speaking to the vent she stared at rather than Ron, "It'll probably be warm inside."
"Industrial heating," Ron thought to himself aloud.
"Yea, so think of that."
"I hope that doesn't mean we don't burn to death inside," he commented.
"Erugh."
Her tongue poking out of her mouth, Kim fired the grappling hook with both hands, aiming precisely for the ventilation shaft. Because of the similar colouration, it was difficult to distinguish the vent apart from the wall. But when Ron gave a gasp as the hook latched onto the vent, Kim growled with determination, eyebrows narrowed as she yanked hard backwards and hitting the retract button on the hook. Successfully, the vent covering tore from the way, (the nails sprinkling down harmlessly on Ron's head) and flew somewhere behind them.
Taking aim again, Kim slipped an arm gently around Ron's tiny waist (she noticed him look at her doing so and blink several times with his mouth slightly parted, his version of a blush since Rons supposedly didn't blush) and snuggled him close as so she could pull the both of them upwards.
She allowed Ron to crawl in first and she followed in after him.
"Where are we going?" he asked, his voice now a whisper. Even with the open space behind them for light, it was nearing pitch-dark very easily.
"Just keep going forwards," Kim told him firmly, "Stop we when get to the first shaft and I'll see if we can drop down."
"Y-you promised we'd leave the first opening we came to!" His voice rose in pitch, revealing his fright, "It's… really small in here…"
"Well I just don't want to drop out on top of DNAmy's head… or in the cage of one of her creatures." Even within the dark Kim could see and sense Ron's instant body shudder. Kim chuckled, hoping it would ease him, she knew her voice had that power. "Isn't that what you always tell me? 'Better to be safe than at the mercy of the Villains'?"
"Of course," his voice was oddly confident. "Ok, here's one."
Ron shuffled forwards and struggled to turn around so he could face Kim, the vent between them on the floor. Small rays of white light broke the darkness surrounding them from the shaft.
Squinting, Kim pressed her face close to the shaft and struggled to peer through the small gaps to gather some sort of idea of what was below her…
She let out a high pitched squeal that caused Ron and Rufus on his shoulder to cringe.
"What?" Ron asked warily, still holding back.
"We are so getting out here," Kim replied, her voice giddy.
Ron exchanged a questioning look with Rufus who shrugged. Still inwardly bouncing with excitement, Kim pulled out her laser and sliced around the shaft, catching it before it had a change to hit the floor. With ease, Kim slipped through the hole and Ron clambered with caution after her.
When he landed on the floor and dusted himself off, he instantly understood Kim's reason for squealing. His apprehension was cleared away by a smirking grin. He trailed after Kim who was bouncing on the tips of her feet, hands clasped, as she gazed longingly at the shelves and shelves and more shelves of, what else, Cuddle Buddies.
They had landed into DNAmy's Cuddle Buddy collection room.
Does that woman bring every single one wherever she goes? Ron thought to himself. He had to admit, he himself was somewhat in awe.
"Oh, oh, oh!!" Kim gasped, still staring up at a certain row. She reached out from behind and grappled for Ron's sleeve to pull him closer; he allowed this, absolutely amused to no end. "Look, Ron! There's… there's the Dogpher."
"Dogpher?" Ron asked, unable to hide his increasing amusement.
"Dog, gopher cross," Kim replied matter-of-factly. "It's been retired for three years now! Oh, and look!" She pointed upwards again to the left, "It's a Rabphin! Remember? That's the one you got me… two years ago, remember?"
"Of course I remember," Ron replied. "I was almost arrested. How does a guy forget that?" he chuckled.
The Cuddle Buddy he had bought her that she had desired so much as a gift to hopefully appeal to her how sorry he was about the argument that had taken place when their hands had detached. It hadn't worked. It had been the letter he had written inside a card for her that had swayed Kim. He had always thought she had read it right away and still hated him when in actual fact, she hadn't even known it was in the bag with the Rabphin. Apparently, Kim had told him, she only first read it when he was in the coma and had flooded him with adoration when he had awoken on his own.
"It's my favourite," Kim murmured, her eyes scanning the shelves.
Ron ventured to place a hand on her shoulder, at some times, they could still be a little apprehensive when it came to showing their love for each other. But this time Ron had no nervousness and rolled his eyes when Kim didn't even take notice, she was so enraptured with the rows and rows of plush.
I can see it now, he thought sarcastically, 'Kim lets the world be blown up because she was so caught up in Cuddle Buddies'. He thought about mentioning the mission to her again but then, hey, why should he? It wasn't like Ron was in any hurry to continue the mission and face giant, distorted monsters ready rip his innards out. Besides. Kim was happy.
"I wish…" Kim mumbled, still star-struck, "I wish I could have just… at least just one from here."
"Why noooot?" Ron still rested a hand on her shoulder, the other going up in the air without a care.
"Ron! That'd be stealing."
"No, I'd call it more like 'commandeering'. They're just sittin' here collecting dust, Kimbo! Do you think DNAmy loves 'em all like you would? She just has 'em so she can have 'em," he squeezed Kim's shoulder, resting her close against him. It was a rare look he saw in Kim, her looking up at him, her hands clasped, blushing and eyes wide as she listened. He basked in it.
"Just take one! You deserve it. It'd be no different than that whole five-five-five dude steal- er, 'commandeering' back his own cash from the banker who stole it from him in the first place, right?!"
"It was SSS, not five-five-five," she mumbled.
"Whatever," Ron sang back, working his smooth talk on Kim. "It'll make you happy. What if this place blows up, huh? They'd all go up in flames! Then… then what will you have done, huh?" He leaned in close to Kim, his lips just barely touching her ear, "You know you want to," he whispered.
"Augh," Kim, blushing, became instantly flustered and pushed him away from herself. "Stop that," she replied, agitated. "Maybe… Maybe if we don't blow this place up we can come back for one…"
"Good idea, I won't letcha forget it either, ha ha!"
Kim smiled, continuing to blush intensely, "We should, um, we should actually be continuing with the mission." She strutted forwards, pausing. Ron tilted his head in observation and became startled when Kim whipped around and pointed at him fiercely, "And we speak of this to no-one! Got it?"
Was that all? "Sure thing, KP," Ron crossed his heart, "Your deep dark secret is safe with the Ron-Man."
Appearing flustered yet again, Kim rolled her eyes and continued out the door. Ron gave one last look at the collection of plush before running to catch up with Kim. He inwardly hoped he wouldn't have to hit the base's self-destruct switch for surely it would be instant death for him at the hands of Kim Possible.
The hallway Ron found himself in was no better than being in the ventilation shafts other than the fact that there was more room, obviously. The walls and floor were made of metal, presenting Ron with an uncomfortable feeling. At least they'd be able to hear someone before they were coming, that's what Kim said in any case. Ron chose to keep his retort silent: if they could hear people coming then people would be able to hear them coming as well…
As they treaded down the hallway, Ron had to admit Kim had been wrong. It wasn't actually all that warm in here either. Granted, it was better than being outside in the snow, Ron still felt a breeze.
"Shouldn't you have the Kimmunicator out or something?" Ron asked; he pushed his glasses further up his nose.
"Don't need it," Kim shook her head, "We just need to locate DNAmy's main… area… place and then we—"
"Just wing it?" It was more of an actual question than a joke.
"Without blowing up the place," Kim added.
"Note filed," Ron nodded, a small trace of a smile surfaced then vanished. It was then that his ears (and Rufus') picked up a soft sound…
"Did you hear that?" he asked abruptly.
Kim froze, paused, then turned around to face him. "Please, don't ever say that to me ever again. Don't ever walk down a hallway with me and suddenly ask if I hear something that you do that I don't. Ever."
But Ron shook his head, knowing the time to which she must've been referring to. "No, really…"
And then Kim heard it too.
"Footsteps!" she alarumed.
"And not just one…" Ron whimpered, shrinking back.
Kim lifted a warning hand, to keep him from passing her (like he was going to). "It's okay, we can take on these henchmen—"
"I… I don't think that's what we're up against!"
"What?"
Then swirling around to follow Ron's pointing finger, she spotted to long shadows travelling their way from around the corner. And the shapes were not human. Not by a long shot.
"Hide!" Ron panicked and began looking around him for a door he could chuck himself into.
"No," Kim demanded sternly. "Stay where you are. They might be able to lead us to—"
But it was too late. The two monstrous beasts had turned the corner and spotted both Kim and Ron. They snorted their shock and aggravation.
Well, Kim had been right by a technicality. The beasts had led them to DNAmy's base within the factory and by personal carrier too. Kim and Ron now found themselves locked in a giant cage that should (as Ron thought) held one of her monsters, surely not two innocent teenagers.
"If you hadn't had argued with me, we wouldn't have been captured," Ron said loftily.
"Oh, funny you should see it that way," Kim replied icily, "I saw it as you arguing with me."
Rufus let out a stream of chatters and clicks at the both of them and Ron hung his head. Kim peered at him, curious as to what his pet mole-rat had just told him from a small container next to them.
"Rufus is right. We shouldn't be fighting with each other. Sorry."
"As you should be."
Ron clamped his mouth shut.
"So no escape for Rufus?" Kim questioned, eyeing the mole-rat in his container.
Rufus pushed on the roof and panted with exhaustion, shaking his head.
"Great," Kim grumbled.
"Hey, don't worry, KP." It was Ron's turn to make an attempt to comfort Kim. They were both sitting on the floor. Ron had his legs in front of him, bent. He leaned against Kim and gave her a loving nuzzle. "At least we're safe in here."
Kim gave a sigh, "I love how you always see things that way." But Ron had a suspicion she was being sarcastic. "We still don't have any idea what DNAmy is up to, for all we know, she could be planning to, like, genetically infuse us to one of them!"
She gave a lifeless point to the two monsters that had brought them to Kim and Ron's new home. The two new lackeys were an ugly pair, one a crocodile-gorilla mix, the other half boar, half something that Kim couldn't make out (and feared she didn't want to).
The beasts were watching the pair of them from beside a console. The console was massive and stretched from one side of the spacious room to the other. Above the console and on the wall was a massively tilted screen, two larger ones and a bunch of smaller ones to the sides. Kim couldn't read anything on the screens from her distance, but the images were of a circling globe and obscure stats.
"I'd say it's a take over the world scheme," Kim nodded to herself.
"Heh, what makes you say that?" Ron snorted. "Where is the mad-woman anyway? Shouldn't she be here to, like, gloat or something? Or maybe she's callin' up Drakken. Didn't those two have a thing for one another a long time ago?"
"Ew, nastification, please." Kim held up a palm for silence. "I don't even want to think of the Villains mingling with each other like that, let alone that house party we spied in on in the summer."
"I woulda won that contest too if you had just let me go in under disguise," Ron muttered.
"I think the Señor Senior Sr. would have been wise to your Señor Ca—"
"There you are!!" came a sickeningly sweet sing-song voice from just outside the door. It caused Kim, Ron and Rufus to cringe; they were no better off when DNAmy, the twisted genetisict with a love for Cuddle Buddies even above Kim's own, fluttered into the room.
"My babies just told me they caught some familiar meanies lurking about!"
" 'Meanies'?" Ron wrinkled his nose.
" 'Babies'?" Kim blanched.
"They passed the message on to my Paraseal", she indicated to a parrot and weasel mix perched on her shoulder. DNAmy bounced up to the cage Kim and Ron sat in, the bird creature squawking on her shoulder. Both Kim and Ron pulled back instinctively.
"What do the two of you want anyway?! Only you two can be up to something really unnice."
"Un—"
"I'm not doing anything you should be interested in!" DNAmy continued and scolded. "But, alas, I have to keep you locked up now in case you try to…" Her tone swerved from sweet to deadly, "Try to stop me." Then she whipped around, her short black hair accidentally whipping the Paraseal off her shoulder which it let her know with raucous indignities.
"What are you planning to do?" Ron asked and Kim gave him a thumbs up behind DNAmy's back as she applied herself to the console.
DNAmy turned, smirking with inner pride. "You know those 'special edition' Cuddle Buddies that have been in the stores quite recently..?"
"Nope, can't say I have," Ron shrugged.
"There's whaaaa?!?" Kim panicked, shifting anxiously in her seat. "They didn't have them listed on the site!! Er…" Ron stared at her blankly. "I mean, um… you know… haven't, like, seen them around… lately. Not that… not that I'm looking for them specifically. You know. Whatever," she attempted a fake shrug. Ron rolled his eyes, his amusement level increasing again.
"We've been out of the country for awhile," Ron admitted to DNAmy.
The bio-genetisct snorted with disdain. "A special edition brand of Cuddle Buddies," she continued, "Has been released recently… by me."
"So," Kim, who had been so full of interest and enthusiasm, deflated, "They're not real Cuddle Buddies. They're bootlegs."
Instantly DNAmy flared up, every inch of her (her Paraseal doing the same) seemed to puff out. "They are NOT fakes!!" she shrilled. "They're special editions! And I'll tell you why!" Before Kim could give some input, DNAmy scuttled to the console and hit a few buttons, bringing up a map of North America.
"They were made by me for a very specific reason," it was here where the woman gave a malicious chuckle, "Because at midnight to-night… when I activate this switch—" she pointed to a massive one in the shape of an Otterfly, the same Cuddle Buddy that was hanging around her neck. "They'll all become… REAL."
"Whoah, for some reason I'm feeling this strange sense of Déjà vu," Ron shuddered.
"And I already know what I'm gonna do! Because then at the end of to-morrow, I'll change them all back to little plush animals."
"And what will that accomplish?" Ron asked, completely baffled.
"They'll want their new best friends back, that's what it'll accomplish!" the biogenetisct shrilled, her eyes becoming frighteningly wild with her vision. "And they'll have to come to me for them! One small price for the love of their lifetime! If the Cuddlers at the Cuddle convention hadn't scoffed at me, they'd have had theirs for free!"
"DNAmy!" Kim appealed, desperately. She shook her head, "You can't do that! DNAmy… these… creations of yours… they're mixed with some of the most dangerous animals! Look at your pets! Even they are unstable! People could get hurt!"
"Nonsense!" she snapped, flashing the gap in her teeth angrily at Kim. Temper beginning to flare dangerously, she continued, "Everyone will want my Cuddle Buddies! They'll play with them and love them and hug them and adore them—just like I do!"
"Not if… if…" Kim grappled for a way to reach DNAmy on a sensible level. "If it's some tiger crossed with a grizzly bear!"
"Oh, but they would!" DNAmy laughed with utter delight, "Two cuddlies in one! They should pay me double for that! Thank-you," she suddenly spoke with unnatural sweetness, the craze abruptly fallen from her voice, "Thank-you for suggesting that to me."
"B-b-but I di—"
"This is insane," Ron commented from the side of his mouth.
DNAmy pranced over to the main console and began clacking away at the massive keyboard. Selecting buttons and hitting switches, maps from all over North America began popping up on the massive LCD monitor masking the entire wall.
Kim's heart thudded and her grasp tightened on the metallic bars of the cage that withheld her. The plush all over North America would be activated at any moment… any moment and what could she do?! Her eyes darted to her backpack on the other side of the room next to Ron's.
Ergh! She grunted at herself. My grappling hook is in there, I don't have anything to work with! Too bad Rufus isn't in here with us…
Kim was about to make an appeal to Ron when, standing up from sitting down to join her, he tripped over himself (ever the clumsy fool) and… fell right through the bars.
Kim's shoulders slumped as she stared at him from the other side of the cage. Ron stared back with equal confusion, if not more. Ron… He was so skinny that he was able to slip right through the bars!
Alright! She cried the exclamation in her mind, not daring to even whisper it aloud. Grabbing the bars, Kim made to slip through when…
"Uh."
She tugged but it was no use, her hips just wouldn't slide through. Kim nearly growled out loud in ultimate frustration. DAMN MY WOMANLY HIPS. Kim blew a strand of hair out of her face absolutely steaming with fury that Ron could slip through and she couldn't. The pleasant smile of amusement on Ron's face did not calm her inner storm.
Pulling the rest of herself back inside the cage, Kim slightly motioned to Ron in the direction of the keys; Ron tilted his head in question. Her patience already shortened, Kim again thrust her head in the direction of the keys; she was eyeing DNAmy's beasts who were watching their master at work…
But still Ron wasn't looking in the direction!
ERGH.
Violently, Kim tossed her head towards the keys but Ron's expression only changed from amusement to worry. For all he knew, Kim was having herself a seizure. This time, Kim pointed to the keys. Ron's eyes followed the direction of the point. He pushed his glasses up his nose and peered.
"You just wanted me to get the keys?"
Kim could have cried.
At the sound of Ron's voice, DNAmy and her beasts twirled around, all of them gasping to see Ron outside of the cage, especially with the gate still locked.
"Oh, Kim," Ron smirked, closing his eyes and oblivious to the beasts creeping up behind him. "I'm not stupid—I was gonna go straight for tho—KYAAAAAARRRRAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Ron was snatched by his leg and yanked into the air upside down by the Crocorilla. Ron had to frantically snatch for his glasses before they smashed onto the floor and break.
"KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM!!!" he wailed as he swung freely from side to side within the fearsome beast's grip.
Kim could only give herself a face palm. "Yea, NOTE, Ron? Next time—DO IT SILENTLY. Thanks."
"Will dooooOOOooOOoooOoooo!!"
Ron was waving about upside down in the air as the Crocorilla carried Ron over to DNAmy. Ron struggled to free his leg from the hairy arm but the beast was so massive and Ron so tiny that he risked injury if he wasn't careful. That crocodile-gorilla mix could very easily snap Ron's neck if he swung him with a little too much vigour.
DNAmy tsked as she bounced up to Ron. Still holding his glasses, he peered at the crazed woman from his reversed position. Kim could see his chest rising and lowering and knew the panic was beginning to seize him.
Stay calm… she thought to him.
"My-my, you just couldn't sit still could you?" DNAmy tsked again and shook her head from side to side. "You had to come and take a closer look! Well, now you'll just have to sit there upside down for the rest of my work before I can deal with you. Can't risk having your lady friend escape while we're putting you back, can we?"
Dang, Kim thought.
"Sit?" Ron yelped, incredulous from his unusual view. "Whaddu mean by SIT?"
"Shh, shh!" DNAmy fluttered her hands up and down in Ron's face as an indication to lower his voice. "You're disturbing my Paraseal!"
"Oh, like I ca—OW!" Ron emitted a high-pitched whine when the Paraseal flew over to him and bit him square on the nose for not keeping quiet. Kim moaned with displeasure.
Fluttering back to its master shoulder, it nuzzled DNAmy's finger affectionately while Ron stared at it with utter hatred. He never liked birds. Butterflies were more his style.
Oo, you're lucky my butterfly pals aren't here or they'd eat your brains out.
DNAmy clapped to herself as she continued her preparations. "It's really too bad you're so uncool, the both of you." Kim's mouth dropped and an estranged sound of indignation found its way out of her throat. "You," she pointed at Ron, "Could have bought your friend one of my Cuddle Buddies for Valentine's Day!"
"Augph, doghn't remignd me," Ron spoke with difficulty through the nose he still clutched. He still hadn't let up on himself for missing that special day of Kim's.
"Ooo!" DNAmy giggled. She clapped her hands girlishly in her eager, "Too bad you'll both miss out on this wonderful Valentine's Day!!"
……………………………………………………
"VALENTINE'S DAY?!?!" Ron exploded, releasing his nose. He took a moment to digest the thought. "Buh… buh… buh… but…"
"Yes!" DNAmy squealed and hopped over to another console to pull a lever. "My adorable new Cuddle Buddies will be loved by all the very instant Valentine's Day is over!" She giggled again, "All the boys gave their sweethearts one of my lovlies! Except you."
"Buh… buh… buh…"
"Ron!" Kim hailed, trying to snag his attention and attempt to flag him down with a waving arm. "Save me?"
"But… NONONONONONONONO. HEY! YO. Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Not to-day! Yesterday! Y-you got it all mixed up!"
"I'm afraid not," DNAmy replied sweetly.
"Buh—"
"Ron," Kim interrupted with aggravation, "Yesterday was Valentine's Day in Australia. To-day is Valentine's Day here and now."
"WHA?"
"Time Zones, Ron!" Kim hollered from inside the cage. "We crossed the International Date Line, remember? Australia's a day ahead from here!"
This notion rang inside of Ron's head like a bell.
"But it won't be Valentine's Day for much longer!" DNAmy chuckled. "In less than half an hour my Cuddle Buddies will come alive!" She waved a waggling finger, "But only temporarily," she sang.
But Ron was no longer paying any attention—whether to DNAmy or Kim's yapping mouth yelling some sort of babble about keys. No, his mind was frozen on one thought and that was:
It was still Valentine's Day.
Instantly Ron's eyes darted to his backpack lying next to Kim's on the other side of the room.
"Just a few more minutes…" DNAmy giggled under her breath.
Again Ron's mind snapped into reality. "Whatchutalkinbout?"
DNAmy turned to face him, her finger never wavering from over an ominously large button on the control pad in red… "Just a few more minutes and it'll be twelve am, time to active my pets!" She giggled inwardly, "What wonderful surprise everyone will awaken to!"
"Few more… minutes…"
A few more minutes and this time Valentine's Day would truly be over no ifs ands or buts in any region of the planet! Then Ron would indeed have to wait until next year to propose to Kim or so she demanded by some outlandish girly rule.
He stared at Kim straight ahead of him. Although she was upside down in his view, he could still distinctly make out her pleading expression. Was it really for the keys he was supposed to get and save the world from monstrous beasts slaughtering innocent people to death in their sleep? Or was it really about all those hints he had never picked up on? Was she trying in one last desperate act to persuade him to say those (he counted) four, yes it was four, four words to her of an eternal bind?
Ron swallowed hard as he watched Kim jab her finger in the direction of the keys, her face utterly distraught… No… she was pointing to their bags!
She knew then? She knew he had been exhausting himself with all those jobs to purchase her a wedding ring to propose? Was that why she had said to him 'Happy Valentine's Day' that night in Australia? His eyes lit up. She was telling him now because this was her last chance.
I'm not gonna let you down this time, KP!
Fiercely, Ron's body sprung into action with extreme determination in his new goal as the clock on the giant screen behind ticked away the time. Hauling himself up, his stomach cringed as he folded himself upwards, holding onto his legs to pull himself up further, as high as he could without his spine snapping. It was just enough for he reached out with his teeth and…
"YAAAARRRRGGGGHHGHGHGH!!!" roared the Crocorilla and flung Ron into the air as it reeled back in pain from the bite it had delivered Ron. Ron's monkey reflexes snapped into action (although his Mystical Monkey Power remained dormant within) and he landed on the ground swiftly on all fours even spinning around in the same movement to face the beast in case it stormed after him.
And it would after it stopped crying. Its friend, the Boar-thing peered over at the injury of their companion, also distracted while DNAmy fussed like a mother hen over her creature. Even the Paraseal let out screaming squawks, hovering over Crocorilla.
Ron stole this moment to flee over to the bags, he heard Kim as he streaked past her, his fists pumping at his sides, exclaiming a whispered: "Yes!" And instantly Ron surged with pride swirling inside his pounding chest.
Although he didn't hear her reply with an enraged: "What?!" when he knelt to the floor to rummage to the bottom of his pack where the ring in its case still resided. As he shuffled through the contents of his bag, from the corner of his eyes, he caught the time: 11. 54pm…
YES! He thrilled, the adrenaline and monkey-excitement surging inside his chest as his hand wrapped around the small container but then…
"AAAAAH!!!" he wailed when for the second time he was scooped from right beneath his feet.
Even more aggressively than before, the Crocorilla smashed its long, toothy jaw in front of Ron's face and it took every bit of strength Ron personally owned to keep him from fainting right in the monster's grasp. Those gnarly teeth were but only inches away from his own already impaired nose which he prized greatly. After all, it was the only one he owned.
"You horrible, rotten, no-good, meanie!!" DNAmy trilled at Ron. She bustled up indignantly, her hair flaring along with her temper. "How could you possibly beat up my sweet, adorable, innocent cuddly?" She reached forwards and gave her ugly brute an embrace around his knee, the highest point to which she could reach. The Crocorilla looked down at her with indifference.
Ron gulped in fear, clutching to the case tightly as he swung from side to side slightly.
"Oh!" DNAmy exclaimed and bounced back over to the console. "I almost forget about the others yet to be activated," she chuckled, "A few more minutes…"
Ron's gaze instantly flashed to the face of the Crocorilla when DNAmy left him and paled when the beast seemed to flash him a nastily pleasant look.
"Do with him what you will," DNAmy spoke calmly without evening turning to look at Ron. "He deserves it."
"No I don't!!"
"Kurah, kurah!" cried the Parasel, agreeing with DNAmy.
"Oh, shut-up," Ron snapped.
It was the wrong thing to say. The next thing Ron knew was his head connected with the metallic ground in a furiously fast amount of time and the pain literally shocked through his brain's system and to every part of his body.
"EROOARRRGGH!!" screamed the Crocorilla. DNAmy didn't even flinch; Kim did, however.
"Ron!" she cried, "Ron… throw me the keys! Get to the keys and I can help you!"
"I—" was all Ron could get out before the Crocorilla swung him into the air and bashed him against the floor. Ron let out a sob and a cry from all the pain. His body shuddered instinctively and he prepared himself for another blow, but the beast had a change of plans. The next thing Ron knew, he was being shaken and swung from side to side so violently, he feared his neck would snap.
"RON!" Kim cried and reached out through the bars. "Make it stop!" she screamed at DNAmy, "That's sick, just make it STOP."
"Ooo…" Ron moaned when the beast paused to make up its mind what to do next to Ron. "I don't feel so good…"
"Oh, Ron… your head… it's bleeding…"
"No, no, I mean my stomach," he burped. "I really don't feel so good." Then with his free hand, he wrapped it around his stomach. "I'm feeling crummy in the tummy again…"
"… MAKE HIM STOP."
This time DNAmy twirled around, her face perturbed. "Just hold him there!" she instructed the Crocorilla fiercely. "This place is rented! I don't want to clean up the mess…"
The Crocorilla was now holding Ron at a distance with repulsion.
Ron burped again as his stomach gurgled inside. Kim cringed from within the cage. "Just," she called to him soothingly, "Take it easy… Just take a moment to breathe in and out… in and out…"
Ron scrunched up his eyes and focused on what Kim was saying.
"One more minute…"
His eyes snapped open in a panic. "What?!"
"One more minute and Valentine's Day is over!"
Ron gasped audibly (mistaking the gasp for a sign of something else, the Crocorilla furthered the distance between itself and Ron). His head whipped to look at the clock ticking away the seconds, then at Kim within the cage.
"When you've gotten yourself a breather," she was saying, although he did not register, "You can go for the keys again. It's not like it's a surprise to them by now."
His face taking a sudden turn of severe determination, Ron looked at the velvet box within his fist and with all the strength he still had, he flung it straight at Kim.
"YES! You had the keys all alo— " Kim reached through the bars and caught the box. Holding the box like she would a key in a swift moment, it was only when the box hit the keyhole did she release she was indeed holding no key. Pulling the box inside the cage, she flipped open the lid to reveal, not a secret key as she inwardly hoped it would, but a tiny, glittering ring.
"Ron. It's not a key."
"Kim…" Sure, now the adrenaline had to confiscate his body, great. With his heart urging to burst free from his chest, he declare: "Will you marry me?!"
"…"
There was a pause from everyone. DNAmy turned around to stare at the two; even the Parasel found itself squeakless.
"What?" Kim asked.
"I SAID—" Ron withdrew a huge breath and called out to Kim while still swinging from side to side upside down: "WILL. YOU. MARRY. ME?!"
From inside the cage on the other side of the room, Kim withdrew an agitated sigh.
"Well, duh, but my priority at the moment is a KEY to FREE MYSELF. You know, so we can SAVE THE WORLD"
"Yea, yea!" Ron replied back, his attention suddenly becoming preoccupied with the violent motions of being swung around violently, up and down—he had a weak stomach and this was worse than the rides at the Middleton Fair—the ones where he usually lost his lunch on!
He was able to add in an equally irrate voice (if not more), "I'm—" he was cut off briefly by being slammed into the floor yet again, "—Working on it!!"
"Oooo, you two are going to get married!!" DNAmy shrilled with utter delight. "I need to call Monty right now, he owes me some money now…"
"You—" Ron hit the floor again—"WHAT?" Kim chorused this.
But if DNAmy responded, Ron wasn't able to hear for the Crocorilla let out an insidious roar before throwing Ron, just like he had thrown the box with the ring to Kim, across the room.
"ERGH!" Ron cried out when his back connected with the metallic wall. He heard both Kim and Rufus cry out in alarum. His chest heaving, Ron opened one eye and saw the Crocorilla coming for him quickly… Then…
Plop!
"Huh?"
Something had fallen onto Ron's lap from above. Picking it up, he released it was… the key!! It must've have fallen from its hook when Ron had impacted with the wall!
"Kim!" he alerted and threw the object of her desire straight at her.
She caught it. "Now this is what I'm talking about!" she grinned and aptly released herself. The cage door swung open, all monsters turned to stare her way, including the Crocorilla who was now just a foot away from Ron ready to do her now fiancé some serious damage.
It was Kim's turn to tsk.
"What goes around, comes around," she sang, then sprang into action. Flipping forwards on her hands towards the beast, she gave it a harsh connecting blow with her foot then leapt into the air for a more than well-deserved kick.
His spine aching, Ron pulled himself up and rubbed his head. His eyes focusing, he saw Kim now taking on all three monsters at once while DNAmy, distracted from her plan, fluttered on the outskirts of the skirmish with her Parasel in fear of her monsters.
"Leave them alone!" Ron could hear DNAmy wail from time to time.
Leaving, the monsters to Kim, Ron knew he could still help their sitch.
As awesome as Kim was with her fighting skills, she still had her work cut out for her she had two beasts to fight. Standing up, he rushed over to the console, still unseen and searched for a specific button… His eyes rapidly scanned all the different labels but didn't find what he was looking for except for one, large red button would have to do (he hoped).
Raising a finger above the switch, he raised his voice and shouted: "OK, NO BODY MOVE OR I'LL HIT THE SELF-DESTRUCT BUTTON."
Everyone froze. Only one of the monster's whiskers twitched.
Hopping into view from behind one of her beasts, DNAmy applied her tiny hands to her cheeks and squeaked. "That's not the self-destruct button! That's—"
"Ah?" He heard Kim groan from behind while his eyes again scanned the console. "But it's the big red button…" he muttered.
"No, no, the self-destruct button is green."
"Green? Since when are they ever green? Is it, like, 'in' this year?"
"If so then remind me to pay Shego her five bucks next time we see her," Kim grunted.
"This one?" Ron asked, locating a green switch on the console.
"No, no, that one!!" DNAmy shrilled, "Don't press it! Don't be—"
"This one?"
"No the one further down."
"Right, so this one?"
"Yes! But do—"
"ALRIGHT NO-BODY MOVE OR I'LL HIT THE SWITCH. This place will make a nice crater on the maps. I hear Cuddle Buddies are pretty flammable," he added this last part with particular malice.
At that last mention, both DNAmy and Kim looked as if their knees were going to give out from underneath them. It was Kim who caught her bearings first:
"Ron! Since when is the self-destruction switch ever green?! That's the activate button! She's bluffing you!"
"No I'm not!" DNAmy spat at Kim. "Don't press the green one!"
"It's the red one but don't hit it!"
"Oh man…" Ron moaned, distressed. "Which button…" Rufus leapt from his shoulder to the console to inspect both switches and shrugged. Sucking in his breath, Ron stretched his arms, his right-hand finger above the green, his left over the red.
"NO-BODY MOVE OR I'LL HIM EM BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME. IN UNISON."
DNAmy nearly fainted, "But-but! M-my plan! My Cuddle Buddies! They're here—you c-can't!!!"
"Yea, I know," Ron smirked, "Now that's why I'm givin' you to ten to move your stuff outta here. Otherwise your plush will go up in flames." (From the corner of his eye, he could see Kim falter, probably just as horrified as DNAmy inside at the notion of burning Cuddle Buddies.)
"Alright, alright!" the bio-genetisct sobbed. "J-just don't… don't hit the switch! I'll," she looked around herself, pulling off her goggles. "I'll go and pack!" To her monsters, she sang, "Lovelies! Come follow Mommy!" She turned and glared with hatred at Ron, "Thanks to this horrible meanie who ruins all of our fun!" In response, Ron purposefully twitched his fingers and frightened DNAmy right out of the room.
"And we'll be watching the security cameras to make sure you're really gone," Kim added, motioning quickly to the set of televisions to the side of the main screen.
When she was gone and Kim and Ron could see her pilling her Cuddle Buddies into a truck on the screen, Kim clapped softly.
"You know, I always thought only Drakken was that dumb," she remarked slyly as she strolled up leisurely to Ron.
Ron shrugged, "She just reminded me o'the time you went ballistic when I took your Pandaroo outside in the rain to play 'undersea adventure'."
"Right. Thanks."
Kim reached forwards and Ron recoiled slightly. He fussed a little, but allowed Kim to touch his face and wipe what he assumed was blood from his face. Sniffling, Ron gave Kim a pleasant smile when she pulled back and peered back at him, probably observing his cuts and bruises. They smiled at one another for quite the time until…
They stared at each other for a moment, neither blinking. Ron knew what was coming next…
Kim shook her head then reached into her pocket to pull out the small velvet box Ron had thrown at her. It was inevitable that she would bring it up.
"So what's this about?" she asked, "Where did this come from?"
This time, Ron blinked, then became flustered and puffed out his chest. He glanced at the giant timer on the screen: it was no longer Valentine's Day.
He pointed at the screen, "Just for the record," he replied, matter-of-factly and puffing out his chest further, "I made it on time and you said 'well duh' which totally meant yes before 11.59pm!"
Kim's eyes followed his finger to the screen, then back to him. Ron began to feel oddly uncomfortable with the look she was sending him. It wasn't the 'Oh, Ron!' he had been opting for, complete with leg-poppings and arms being thrown around his neck for an embrace. It was more, like… 'what the heck is going on here?'. His confidence went straight down the drain when Kim next said:
"Aaaand… what's so special about 11.59pm? It was a glass slipper with Cinderella, not a ring."
Ron frowned, "Because… it's still… was, er… still Valentine's Day! KP! I didn't miss it after all—because of time zones like you said! I might've missed it back in Aussie Land but not here, I made it! See? I proposed to you on Valentine's Day." And she was still giving him that peculiar look. "Just like you wanted…"
" 'Just like I'… What?" She gave a short nervous laugh but cut herself off. "And what in the world gave you the impression I wanted you to propose to me on Valentine's Day? Ron… we're not even twenty yet."
Ron stood, double blinking as if he'd been caught in a lie and was furiously trying to work out a suitable alibi.
"I," he stumbled, "I didn't think it mattered. Cos… I… didn't… think it mattered…" He paused, anxiety flashing all through his body. "I love you."
"I know that. I'm talking about this V-Day proposal stuff."
"You were dropping hints."
"I was?" This time, Kim appeared seriously shocked. Her eyes went wide and she furrowed her brow in deep concentration. Her voice became suspicious and Ron didn't understand why. "When? What signs?"
"Well… okay so I don't exactly know either—" (Kim arched a single eyebrow.) "—But you said you were!"
"I did?"
"You did! You said to Monique you've been dropping hints and I wasn't picking up on them and that you wanted me to propose to you before Valentine's Day cos you thought it was all, like, romantic 'n junk so… so…" Ron took in a deep breath and exhaled, "So I'm proposing to you. On time!" he sounded less proud when he said this yet again.
Kim's eyes fell to the floor and Ron had to crane his neck downwards to catch a better look at Kim. He called her name softly and watched as she began to slowly shake her head from side to side.
"Oh, Ron!" It was still not the 'Oh, Ron!' Ron had imagined she'd give her. He then found out why: "You were eavesdropping on my conversation with Monique at the café in January, weren't you?"
"W-well… I, uh, I wouldn't call it," (he used air quotes) " 'eavesdropping' per say. I'd say, more like… 'having myself a croissant and being able to hear girls talk a little too loudly behind me because I can't exactly shut off my ears'."
"You shut off your ears in math class."
Ron's mouth opened and closed like a fish on land gasping for air.
Kim shook her head again, "Ron! Augh, Ron… you didn't hear everything from our conversation, did you?"
Ron shrugged, "There were other people talkin' too."
"If you had come with me to see the movie we saw, you wouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that I was talking about you!"
"Movie?"
"I invited you to see the, how did you put it? Oh yea, 'chick flick' movie Monique and I went to see. It was called 'Heart Day Love'—it was about a guy who has to propose to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day but he keeps missing and then they're like, eighty years old and—"
"Guy shoulda learned the art of eavesdropping," Ron muttered, placing his hands on his hips.
"You should have learned to not jump to conclusions," Kim returned. "Why in the world would I want you to propose to me?"
Ron recoiled.
Kim obviously didn't realise how hurtful her words were until they all came out. She gasped covering her mouth and looked into Ron's eyes. Wounded.
"Uh…" she paused, feeling awkward and began to blush. "Ron… I didn't mean it like that!"
"No, no forget it, KP. We… we can just go back to being 'us' like before, okay?"
"Ron, wait… Look, when I said—"
She was about to say more when it was then she suddenly remembered something else.
"This… this is why you were working all those jobs!" Scandalised, she pointed at the box in her other hand. "This was why you worked so… so insanely… stupidly hard to make money! This…" Kim flipped opened the box to take a better look at the ring. It was…
It was divine. How in the world could Ron have afforded such a ring? Well, she knew, but even so! It had hardly been two months that he had worked those minimum of four jobs. He must've used some of his own money as well! (She doubted he was able to tap into his naco royalties bank account which, after that first disaster, he wasn't allowed to touch until he was announced legally dead.)
The ring was of silver with an ornate, sublime design to appear that it was coiling around the finger it had not yet touched. There were three stones, two smaller on either side of the large glistening diamond in the centre in the shape of a heart; the two smaller were also heart shaped. It absolutely glistened within her eyes and Kim found herself suddenly and inexplicably short of breath.
It wasn't just how beautiful and expensive the ring was. But it was how Ron, when he 'discovered' he had to propose to her on Valentine's Day, didn't say no. Didn't say 'next year' or talk it over with her.
Instead, in the short amount of weeks he had, he worked himself to the point no-one should work and all just for her. She still remembered vividly how Ron would come back early the next day to collapse, his muscles absolutely giving out on him from a hard days work. It was so… She did not have a tear in the corner of her eye.
Sniffling, she mumbled to Ron, "Ron… you're so stupid," she sniffled again, trying very hard to stop the corners of her mouth from twitching upwards into a smile. She poked at her eye as if stuffing any slipping tears back in. "I can't believe you… like when you came back at night all exhausted, I thought… I didn't… it was all for me…"
"Yea, but hey, it's okay."
Kim made a small sound in the back of her throat.
"No really, it is."
Kim looked up, wondering why he was shrugging so nonchalantly. Then she was even more surprised when he reached out and placed a hand on the maroon velvet box and shut it; his hand lingered on top of hers upon the box.
"I can just, like, y'know, save it for another time or something."
Giving another sniffle and a hiccough, Kim stared stupidly at Ron. "What are you talking about?"
Ron gently pulled the box closer to him with Kim's hands still underneath his. "You're right. I made a mistake, no big. We're not even twenty yet. 'Why would you want me to marry you?'. So I'ma just keep this for, um… Just keep it."
"N-no!" Kim stammered, "I didn't mean it like that! I was just confused. I… It's not that I don't want you to never propose to me. I just didn't know why so abruptly and on Valentine's Day, okay?" Kim gently pulled the box closer to herself. "What? A-Are you taking back your proposal?"
They were staring directly into one another's eyes, neither of them able to look away from the depths of each other's; each trying with all their might to read the other's thoughts, a not so impossible feat.
It was awhile before Ron could form thoughts into spoken words: "Are you saying you still want me to propose to you?" He tugged the box back towards himself.
"And…" Kim murmured, still unable to redirect her eyes from Ron's. "I want to know if you're taking it back."
"It's, um…" Ron's pale, freckled cheeks tinged with colour in his flush. "Only if you want it to?"
It was Kim's turn to take the box back to her side. "So you're asking me?"
"If you want me to."
"Do you want to?"
The colour in his cheeks brightened.
"Why not?"
"I agree."
"You do?" his voice wasn't even yet a whisper.
"I do."
"So…"
"So I'll marry you. Besides," a faint smile spread across Kim's face. "I bet you lost the receipt for this and you won't be able to get your money back."
"Probably not," a grin slowly made its way upon Ron's.
He was the first to break eye contact when his eyes darted to the box and then… then he slowly released his hands atop of Kim's. He released his hands, pulling back, allowing Kim to draw it even closer to herself and even to open it once again, the ring visible to both of them again.
"And what does it matter?" Kim's soft, distant voice, continued, she too looked down at the ring. "We're together anyway. I know I want to be with you forever, I can't be with anyone else. So age doesn't matter to us."
"Right."
"We might as well. We've known each other longer than anyone else at our age. That's why."
"Exactly."
She looked up at Ron and a full blown smile flooded across her face when she saw Ron's eager, joyful expression, he was bouncing slightly as if already ready to explode with happiness.
"I'm so going to marry you!" Kim broke into complete harmonious laughter, not a nervous laugh to be found.
Ron finally burst, no longer able to contain his excitement and Kim let out a small, yet happy, sound of surprise when he attacked her in a mad hug, arms thrown around her neck, complete with leg-popping action.
"We're gonna get MARRIED and have children and then THOSE children will have children and then those children's children—"
"Yes, yes!!!" Kim replied, jumping up and down with Ron, now the embarrassed fluster was beginning to show through! " 'Children children'— I got it, I got it!!"
"I LOVE you so much, I just… you… BOOYAH!!"
-ø-
Returning to the sorority, Kim had bypassed Bonnie. Kim especially went out of her way to 'discreetly' show off her ring. Watching Bonnie's jaw drop in something that was awe, shock and the shivers was more than satisfaction for Kim as an estranged sort of 'revenge' for all the years Bonnie had bashed, smashed, ridiculed, sneered and cruelly verbally abused Ron and Kim's relationship. It was the ultimate 'in-your-face' and Kim smirked when she walked up the stairs to her room, Ron trailing in utter obliviousness to the score that had just been settled.
It was late when they had returned and neither of them were quite in the settled mood for homework. Both of them were fizzing with energy and neither could stop chattering about… well… about each other. It was as if this ring now coiled lovingly around her left ring finger was a key to a door that flooded with memories. Kim and Ron could not stop talking with sentences that usually started with 'Do you remember the time when..?'.
They were loud at times, bursting with laughter and screaming with delight at a particular memory. It was a good thing the other girls were up late having a party for some member (the rumour was punk-girl had gone for her first manicure) so their trailing voices disturbed no-one.
It didn't help that Ron brought out some of his spark rocks candy, and it gave each of them an insane sugar-rush. Rufus joined in too but conked out on the fun pretty early and had fallen asleep hours ago in his king-sized doggie bed by the time the sugar-rush finished running its course through Kim and Ron. They were now talking to each other in low voices about this and that, being the best friends they always had been and always would be.
Kim was laying on her bed, the both of them still in their mission clothes (somewhere along the insane buzz her mind had been in, she had found it to be a good idea not to change into something else in the small case that it lead to something else what with the insane high they had both been on). Her head rested dully upon her pillow, one arm above her head, the other softly playing with Ron's hair. He laid with his head gently upon Kim's bare stomach, his own arm stretched over her, the other tucked close to himself. Both held their eyes lazily feeling quite fatigued.
Kim loved this.
She loved how even though she loved him and enjoyed giving him kisses, nothing had changed between them—even now that they were engaged—they were still able to act as they had through their entire lives. As Kim had once told herself long ago: being romantic with Ron only brought more, it didn't not change anything that already was.
Kim lifted her hand that was above her head to cover a yawn. "You know," she said, "We should visit my parents this weekend and tell them."
"Mmm."
Kim smiled ruefully at his lame response and scratched him particularly well at the base of his head; he purred with contentment.
"Yea, yea," Ron said, in response to Kim's suggestion. "Just s'long as your Dad doesn't send me in a black hole. Heh. Again."
Kim chuckled, "I think he'll be pleased this time."
"You don't think they'll think we're too young or anything like that, do you?"
Kim had no idea, but that wasn't the answer to help reassure Ron. After all, her Dad had an intimidating effect on boys.
"I bet they've been secretly betting behind our back that we'd get married. One of them will fall to a large amount of money this weekend so I think it'll make them happy."
"I disapprove of gambling because in other words," Ron added, "One of 'ems been betting against us. Ten bucks says it's your Dad."
"Ten bucks says you're a fussbudget."
Ron snorted.
"What do you have to worry about?" Kim continued, "I'm sure they'll be thrilled. Besides, it was you on the airplane ride back from Washington who said you don't care what other people think."
"Your parents aren't 'people'."
This earned a round of soft laughter from Kim. "Thanks," she remarked sarcastically, "I'll be sure to tell them that."
Ron lifted himself up and rearranged himself so he was underneath the covers and lying next to Kim, his head sharing her pink pillow.
"It sucks that we've got class to-morrow. Think maybe we can skip it due to our special occasion?"
"Absolutely not," Kim replied unyielding. "We've already missed enough with these missions and I haven't finished catching up on homework yet either."
Ron let out a yawn. "Yea, yea, okay."
"Ron?"
A grunt.
"The Parasel loves you."
Kim lifted the plush Cuddle Buddy of the very same parrot and weasel cross that had bitten Ron on the nose and pressed it close to Ron's face as if it was nuzzling him. When Kim and Ron had been leaving DNAmy's factory after they made sure she was gone, Kim insisted on stopping by the Cuddle Buddy collection room hoping something had been left behind—nothing had been. Except for the Parasel that Ron picked up in the corner of a shelf Kim had not seen.
"I don't love him back," Ron replied haughtily. "And neither does my nose. Their relationship will never be the same."
Kim giggled and again made the Parasel nudge Ron affectionately; he didn't object. Leaning back, Kim checked the clock and realised it was a lot later than she thought it had been. Now that she focused, she realised she could no longer hear the cries and laughter of the girls downstairs. Shifting the Parasel to her other hand, Kim flicked off her lamp light and settled underneath the covers with Ron. Then it was her turn to give Ron the affectionate nuzzles, this he reacted to by nuzzling against her in return.
"You know," she heard his soft purr come from just below her ear. "We're engaged now…"
"I knoooow…" Kim stared off into the dark, her eyes still unadjusted. She rested her palms upon his chest and rubbed absent-mindedly. "I know," she repeated.
The next thing she knew, Ron had pressed his lips against hers in a long, slow but forceful kiss. When Ron was about to pull away, Kim gave him one of her own, this time placing her hands on the back of his slender neck. Pulling away, Kim stared where she knew his eyes would be if she could see through the darkness and blushed.
From there, she felt Ron shift himself closer to her, weaving his arms around her waist and pulling himself against her, attempting to perhaps lay himself on top of her as he gave her another kiss.
"Ron…" Kim murmured when Ron gave a brief pause. "You know… not yet. I'm not... not yet."
"But we're engaged," his voice returned from the darkness. "You said—"
"When we're married," Kim responded, "We're not yet."
Silence.
"Please," she added.
"Of course," he finally spoke. She felt Ron slip somewhat off of her yet give her a squeezing hug. He kissed her check and nuzzled her softly. "Night, KP." Before Kim could allow herself to even apologise to Ron and give him a lame excuse, he said lightly, "Good-night, Parasel."
This cheered Kim up and she wrapped her arms around Ron, reassured that Ron wasn't that sore regarding her decision.
She supposed Ron eventually fell asleep with her in his arms. Her eyes adjusted and she could just make out the outline of Ron's face, so close and gently breathing rhythmically.
Inside, Kim still didn't know how long she could put this off for. Once they were married, which she realised was now sooner rather than the far, far later she had been expecting, Kim would run out of excuses.
She loved him, she… wanted to but… not yet. Just not yet.
-ø-
The week passed the both of them by as fast as Kim had expected it to and soon enough it was Friday— the day, after classes, Kim and Ron would head to her house in Middleton. Kim had phoned her Mother the day after Ron 'proposed' to let her know they were coming to stay for the weekend. Of course, Kim, although boarded at the University, still technically lived with her parents at home so her Mother expressed cheerfully she didn't even need to phone. Kim kept her engagement a secret until she could tell both her parents in person.
It was so refreshing to spend an entire week with Ron again. It hadn't been something that had lasted too long after Winter Break what with Ron raising money for her engagement ring. In fact, it was the first week since for things to return to normal. This time there was no parting sadness when Kim headed for cheer practice, leaving Ron behind. For as soon as she entered the football stadium where Kim's cheer practices were held, Ron was right there in the stands with the friends and boyfriends of the other girls in her squad. Yes, Ron was right there, everyday, waving to her with that enthusiastic grin of his that always warmed Kim's heart.
On that Friday after practice, Kim gave a last wave to Ron, telling him wordlessly as always she'd meet him at the other end after changing. It was right as she was doing so when she felt a shadow loom over her. Instincts taking hold, Kim whipped around, intuition expecting a henchmen or Villain, reality telling her she was close but not quite correct. It was Lonnie. That was odd.
"Yes?"
"Need to speak with you. Like, now."
Kim double blinked. Was she in some sort of trouble? Or…
Oh-no. Don't tell me. Please don't tell me she's kicking me off the squad because I've been missing practice!
"Uh, one sec," Kim held up a finger, appearing embarrassed; Lonnie gave a low snarl. Cupping her hands around her mouth, Kim shouted to Ron just as he was leaving the bleachers, "I'll meet you back at the dorm, okay?"
He paused, brief confusion, then nodded and gave a final wave of goodbye.
Once all the girls were inside the stadium, Lonnie led Kim to one of the benches and pulled out her cell phone. Checking it, she flipped it shut and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
Kim's lips burned to ask, 'Did I do something wrong?' but decided to wait to make her appeal to stay on the team.
"Look, this is how it is," Lonnie continued, gazing at Kim as if she didn't really care who the heck was standing in front of her. "I graduate this year and the squad'll need a new captain. I'm choosing you, got it?"
"M-me?" Kim stumbled. Normally she wouldn't have been startled, but given the circumstances… "Are you, like, serious?"
Lonnie squinted at her as if in disgust, "Uh ya, I am. Look, you may lack—"
"Yes, yes, I know," Kim rolled her eyes. "But I make up for it in my moves."
"Exactly," Lonnie sniffed, staring off to the side. "You're the only one who's had any team leader experience and quite frankly there's, like, no chance I'd pick Bonnie. Pfft, ya, right." Lonnie shook her head and flipped open her cell again to stare as she spoke.
"I only put her on the squad or she'd tell Dad and get us into trouble. Oh, like we really need that, the little tattler." 'Us' and 'we' probably referring to Lonnie's sister, Connie, who attended Upperton University; it was known that the two sisters were very close often leaving Bonnie out. "So that's it, but don't go around saying anything, I don't want to deal with the backlash of picking a freshman."
Kim nodded. "But why tell me now?"
"Tchach," Lonnie shrugged, leaning on one leg, "Cos I just thought of it?"
And she might forget the next night, Kim smirked with irony to herself.
"Well, thanks for choosing me."
"Whatever," Lonnie let out a long sigh then strode towards the stadium entrance. "I'm going to be late."
Kim stood alone on the stadium grounds as she watched Lonnie disappear. Once Kim was positive Lonnie had left, she could no longer contain that leap of joy that had been swirling inside of her.
"YES!" she squealed, "I'm going to be the new captain agaaaaain!" Kim sang this to herself as she skipped into the stadium to change. "Uh…" with all the jumping around, the tube top of her cheer uniform slipped slightly despite the straps. "And once I am, I vote for more practical uniforms."
Hurrying to change, Kim couldn't wait to tell Ron the good news. Surely he would be excited for her! He knew how much it meant to her. (He had listened to Kim's rants and sobs at the After Nationals Cheerleading Party last year how she knew she wasn't going to be cheer captain anymore next school year in University.)
Everything was going as how it should and Kim just had to hum a tune to herself as she walked through the beautiful campus grounds, bag slung over her shoulder. She couldn't remember the words, but it was the tune to that outrageous song Ron had once sung a few years ago for a school essay.
The February breeze played childishly with Kim's hair, as if it too were congratulating her—and not just on her new position next year at University, but as well as her recent engagement to Ron. Kim stretched her arms, reaching for the sky as she walked and basked in the little bit of mellow sunshine that swam throughout the air.
Life is wonderful I love it! I love Ron, I love cheerleading; I love my life
Continuing to swell with glorious feelings, she hummed, smiled and skipped all the way to the sorority house and even up the stairs. Oh, how hard it was to contain boasting from Bonnie as she passed her! How difficult indeed!
She was still humming as she fiddled with her keys when she remembered it was probably already unlocked. She swung the door open, absolutely unable to wait in shutting it and whisper to her best friend and lover urgently on the bed the good news. No-one else was supposed to know yet, after all and—
"Ron!!"
Dropping her bags and keys, Kim stood in the doorframe in utter shock. Her brain struggled to make some comprehension of what she saw before her.
Ron was on the ground in front of the bathroom and was struggling, his arms shaking to crawl over towards her. Kim's mouth dropped in horror and her eyes became stunned wide open; she stood, beginning to shake too. Ron's head was hung low, his bangs drooping thus obscuring his face. But she didn't need to see his face to know he was coughing violently.
Wheezing, he again tried to pull himself on the rusty-red carpet over to Kim. And it was because of the carpet's colour that she only realised once she had fled to his side that he was also coughing up...
"You're coughing up blood!!"
Unable to respond, Ron took in a deep, wet breath and let out another round of hard, coarse coughs. Wheezing in and coughing out, Ron's body shook uncontrollably as she knew he was begging for the coughing to stop.
Even though she was kneeling before him, she wasn't able to react properly yet. Her hand was shaking, covering her gaping hole of a mouth as she stared down at Ron in aversion. He scrunched his hand into a tight fist before him and continued to cough, wheeze and splutter, his diaphragm going into overdrive to keep him from suffocating.
Oh goodness… his diaphragm… H-he…
And then she knew what had happened to him, he hadn't fallen mysteriously ill. No, he had just been forcing himself to vomit up his food again while she had been having her meeting with Lonnie and finally, his diaphragm must have backlashed on him after all those times of eroding it by performing this act.
"I…" Kim placed a hand on Ron's back and began to repetitively rub his back quickly, more out of a nervous, panicked twitch than anything else. A particularly violent set of coughs released itself and Ron heaved a gasp, a gasp for breath and a gasp for exasperation. Some blood landed on Kim's pants.
"I'm phoning the campus nurse!" she declared. No! I should phone 911!! Oh goodness, what do I do?!
Frantic, Kim attempted to push herself and over to the phone by her bed but before she was even on her feet, Ron unexpectedly lunged at her, causing her to cry out. He wheezed hard in reaction to that burst of movement of his and hacked some more before finally gasping:
"No…"
Kim was too beyond filled with revulsion by what was going on to defy him at the moment. But as she watched Ron, an arm on her lap, his head hanging over her legs, she knew she had to help him! Again, she went to stand, but Ron applied strength to his arms on her legs that she wouldn't have known him to have in his fight to keep her sitting.
"Ron!" Kim let out, aghast. "I have to call for help! Y-you're coughing up blood for crying out loud!!"
"No, I…" Ron coughed less but continued to gasp. He let out a sob before continuing, "I'll be okay."
Kim was shaking her head slowly, "N—"
"It's okay," Ron said again, after a pause to regain air to speak. He took another pause and Kim should have taken that time to leap for the phone and dial help, but she found that she couldn't. She was entranced with hearing what he had to say. "This… It happened before… just… Not as bad. But," he added hastily, "It goes away. Just if… I do too much at once. I'm… I'm okay."
Kim's face was still twisted into an emotion of repulsion and despair. She paused and then…
"How can you say that!" she suddenly exploded. She gave a small sob, but wouldn't allow any tears to surface, instead she felt herself becoming angry. "You weren't supposed to be in there vomiting, Ron! You darn well know that!"
"K-Kim…"
"No. I'm pissed off at you, you know that? You know how upset this makes me and you said this—THIS—happened to you before and you didn't tell me or just STOP?"
"Kim…"
"I mean what was that stupid stuff you said about letting me help you and you knowing this was wrong and you wanting to stop, HUH? LOOK. You're coughing up BLOOD, Ron. That's blood. And yet it STILL doesn't penetrate your mind?! You proposed to me, Ron. We're engaged. We're going to be married. And you can't deal with something stupid like this? What the heck is this, Ron, huh? I just—"
But then she stopped in mid-sentence when she was able to hear the soft sounds: the soft, quiet sound of Ron crying. She halted, blinking in confusion finally capable of ceasing her fury for a moment.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed when she stopped yelling at him. "I-I didn't… didn't know it would happen again… this is the second time, I didn't know. I didn't say anything cos I was too scared… Kim, I'm sorry, I try. I tried, I try… I do… I couldn't h-help it—" He gave a hiccough. "Don't… yell…"
Kim opened her mouth as if to yell again, but caught herself before she started. Ron's head was still hung over her legs, his arms crossed on her before him and she felt the small touch of some sort of wet droplets land on her legs. This time, she knew it wasn't blood, it was tears.
"Oh, Ron," Kim swooped onto Ron's back to embrace him. Gently, she rubbed his back, smoothing the hiccoughs and sobs out of his system as he quietly wept. She gave an exasperated sigh but enveloped his emotions anyway.
She had been so terse, so… so unbelievably shocked, that's what. It had been her anger overleaping her fear of what was happening again. Normally she had this in check, but in the outlandish moment, she had lost herself. She was beyond frustrated especially when she had seen how much damage Ron was doing to himself. And keeping it from her at that! It seemed like no matter how many times she tried to help, no matter how well Ron appeared to be coming along…
Kim just couldn't understand why.
They sat there on the floor for a long time until the moment Ron had stopped sobbing, stopped shaking and pulled himself upwards. Kim stared deeply into his eyes that travelled around the room—they were sore from crying but she saw his remorse and determination to put what had just happened behind him.
Giving a last sniffle, Ron stood up, Kim still sitting on her legs below him.
"I packed my bag," he said.
It numbed Kim to how easily he could just speak as if nothing had occurred, minus the sniffles in his nose from the recent cry. But then she supposed this was something he had mastered, after all, he had her fooled for years.
Kim looked at his backpack on the bed. "Is everything you need in there?" she asked, following along. "You should be packing more than me."
Ron shrugged, "I don't need much. If I need anything, I can always hop home and pick sumthin up."
Kim nodded silently and stood up, picking up Ron's backpack into her arms. "I just need to pack a few last things and then I'm ready." Kim gathered these few last things from the bathroom and a few from her drawer that she stuffed into the backpack she had on the floor (she also packed the Parasel).
"Don't forget to bring your homework," she added expecting a groan from Ron. He gave no reaction.
When she felt she was done packing, Kim snuggled her pack onto her back and lifted Ron's into her hands as he grabbed his jacket. "Alright, let's get going then," she glanced at the clock on her dresser. "If we leave now, we'll be able to make it in time a little before dinner."
Ron opened his mouth as if to say something or perhaps make a joke, but opted on saying nothing for a change.
"Sure you don't want to bring Rufus' bed?" Kim teased, lightly batting Ron's arm with her own.
Ron stood, his shoulders ever-so slightly slumped with his eyes shimmering with a far-off look to them. It was like he was looking at something that wasn't there, or that his mind was worlds away from the present.
"Ron?" Kim called again gently.
"Na, no room." Ron shrugged and turned around. Watching Ron's awkward, sullen behaviour perturbed Kim but he then turned around and a hint of that trademark Ron grin slowly faded onto his face. "If you don't hurry, I'll go without you," he teased.
"I'm coming!" Kim wailed as she trotted out of the room, struggling to scoop up her own bag and keys from the floor and catch up with Ron at the same time.
As she was locking the door, Ron standing ever-so obviously close to Kim, she thought to herself: knew she was supposed to just pretend what happened didn't— just as he was doing. But inside, there wasn't any way Kim could be able to do that. They could shelf it for now given the circumstances while Kim and Ron surprised her parents with their joyful news, but it would have to be brought up again and what with the now upcoming marriage, Kim dreaded it. Just when Kim had been proclaiming silently to the world that all was right in her life, it had to throw this back into her face. It was like events like these always took a turn for the worse and tore the two apart.
Well, just let it, she challenged.
The drive from the bustling, thriving Tri-city to the comfortingly mellow life of Middleton was a quiet drive for Kim and Ron. Kim laid her head upon Ron's back, clinging lightly to his waist from behind as he drove them on his motorbike. She could still feel an odd tension between the two. So in this forced silence, Kim continued to dwell on what had happened upstairs. She thought on this so hard in fact, that she didn't even notice they had reached Middleton until Ron pulled up in her house's driveway and sat up.
Sitting up as well, Kim gazed up at her recognisable house., nothing about it had changed. She had last seen this place during Christmas Vacation and yet it felt like it had been far longer than that. Kim always missed home (although she never missed her brothers).Carrying their bags, Kim pulled out her house keys and entered her familiar household without so much as a knock.
"There you are! Welcome back, Kimmie!"
Instantly, Kim's Mother graciously leapt from the chesterfield to embrace her daughter the very moment Kim walked in the door. Her Father strode up from his favourite armchair and presented Ron with a hand shake and nod.
After the four of them completed their welcoming greetings and how do you dos. Her parents instantly noticed Ron's new glasses and complimented him on the flattering look they bestowed him.
Kim told her parents they would be back downstairs to talk and catch-up with one another after she and Ron dumped their bags in Kim's room. Upon reaching her bedroom after walking up those flights of stairs she and Ron had run up and down all through their lives, Kim paused momentarily. She took the last step from the stairs into her loft and soaked in the reassurance her room brought to her. She was pleased to see that everything was as she left it, not a thing out of place. Obviously, her parents had barred the Tweebs from running her bedroom into an experiment chamber.
Pushing past her without even pause for any kind of past recollection, Ron heaved his backpack off his shoulders and left it by the base of Kim's bed. Reaching out, he took Kim's bag that she handed to him and placed it by his.
"So, uh," Ron began to stutter, snagging Kim's attention away from her room. Too bad they were only staying for the weekend. "When are we going to tell your parents?"
"After the chit chat." Ron gave her a questioning look. She smiled. "I'll bring it up. You just…" Kim strode past him and down the stairs, "Sit and look pretty as usual."
Ron scowled, trotting down the stairs after her. Together, they rejoined on the chesterfield with her parents. Her Mother took seat on the sofa next to Kim, her Father situated once more in his favourite armchair looking entertained. Kim noticed this pleasing expression of her Father's eased Ron substantially as he sunk into the plush seat next to Kim. Although she did notice he was careful to leave an appropriate amount of space between himself and her.
Before her parents could pose any questions, Kim began the routine— polite talk of how things have been going lately for her and Ron at University. It felt a little odd to be having such 'formal' talk with her parents when she was so used to being casual with the both of them. Were her parents receiving the same perception? Well, this was how things would be as she continued to grow into a young adult.
"Oh," her Mother began, "It's been insane at the hospital lately. Honestly, I'm being called at all hours."
"Wow, how many people need operations on their brains in Middleton?" Kim asked, partially making a joke.
"Everyone," Tim said as he marched down the staircase. His twin brother, Jim, right behind him. "Everyone's gone into such a high state of bliss since you left, it busted their brains because they're used to you bogging them down." Jim snickered.
However, Kim did not. "Don't make me throw this pillow at you," she growled, placing a pillow from the sofa onto her lap. "I've been improving my aim."
"Don't take that for granted," Ron advised and Kim shot him a look.
"Now, boys," Mr Possible admonished his sons as the twins entered the living room. "Do you really have to harass your sister the moment she comes home? She won't be here for long so you should spend time with her while she's available."
"Ew, no!" Kim stuck out her tongue.
"What are you talking about?" Jim asked, repulsed. "She was just here during Christmas Break! I thought we wouldn't be seeing her until summer again."
"Ah, the broken dreams," Tim smirked.
"You could have at least called to warn us."
"Yea, we would have spent the day away from home."
Kim let out a snort and cast her head away from her brothers, loftily putting her nose in the air.
"Well don't worry about it. I'm only here for the weekend and I don't know when I'll be back again."
"We're hoping for 'never'," Jim scowled.
Tim picked up the television remote from the coffee table and began flicking channels on the adjacent sofa. (Ron appearing rather forlorn as the remote was whisked further away from him, Rufus on his shoulder with the same expression.)
"Turn down the television," Mrs Possible told Kim's brothers. "You don't have to engage in a conversation with your sister but we are."
"Fiiiine," Jim rolled his eyes and lowered the volume only by a single notch.
"Why are you here anyway?" Tim asked, staring at the television lazily. "It's not even a long weekend!"
"Yes, Kimmie, we've been wondering that ourselves," Mr Possible added, turning his attention back to his daughter. "It's not that we don't want you to drop by whenever you like but you haven't been doing so previously so we're just wondering!"
"Just because you're in University now," Mrs Possible added, "And growing up—"
"Ew, YUCK," Tim and Jim shuddered and sent wary looks at their sister as if she were about to spawn into a mutant. Kim reacted to her Mother's remark by blushing.
The twin's reactions sent a smile onto Mrs Possible's face and yet she continued as if she had not been interrupted.
"It doesn't mean this is no longer your home. You still live here to us, Kimmie."
"You don't need an invitation," Mr Possible confirmed.
"Okay, okay, thanks." Kim blushed all the more and found herself to be constantly smoothing out the pillow on her lap in her embarrassment.
With all the blushing she was already doing, she began to wonder how on Earth she'd manage to tell her parents the big news. With a side look at Ron, she realised she'd receive no help from him. His hands were folded too neatly on his lap as he stared at the television a little too determinedly.
When Mr and Mrs Possible no longer spoke, Kim knew it was time for her to say something or an awkward silence was bound to pop up. And then no-one would be able to start a conversation from that! Oh, why didn't she just tell her Mom over the phone instead?! This was going to be a lot more difficult than she thought it would be.
"Well, we came back to visit and…"
Her parent's expressions remained stoic. And yet Kim could see as if they suspected something drastic.
Kim slouched her shoulders dramatically in a signal of defeat and blurted it out: "I thought I'd come back to let you guys know that Ron and I are engaged now."
Ron, whose eyes had been glued to the television suddenly started and turned to look at Kim with a somewhat blank expression— like he hadn't even heard a word Kim had said.
"EEEWWWWWWW," Jim and Tim burst, suddenly springing up from their seats and staring and Kim and Ron. "You two are getting MARRIED?"
"Aren't you too a little young to get married?!" Jim recoiled.
"You're not even adults yet!!"
"Are you eloping?"
"How come you don't have a ring on your finger?"
"Was Ron too cheap?"
"I'm right here…"
"When are you getting married?"
"Why are you getting married?"
"When did he propose?"
"Why did he propose?"
"Where did he propose?"
"Does that mean you're going to have kids?"
"I'm too young to be an uncle!"
"Does that you mean you guys have already—"
"Enough!" Mr Possible burst, cutting in at just the right moment for Kim's cheeks sakes. Mr Possible reared himself straight, pulling himself from his seat in his armchair to appear imposing. "If you boys can not be mature enough then I want the two of you upstairs in your rooms now."
"But—"
"Now."
"Don't you wanna know too?!"
Jim and Tim turned to face their Mother whose expression was just a stony as her husband's. "Listen to your Father, boys."
"This sucks," Tim snorted, stomping off in the direction of the staircase.
"I wonder if they—"
"NOW."
"We're going!"
Everyone could here the grumbles of Jim and Tim as they stomped up the stairs with extra stomp and headed to their room. Once they had left, everything became oddly quiet in the sitting room, or maybe it wasn't that odd with the twin's outburst following Kim's news. Ron was beginning to pale, his hands still folded and this time he stared at the coffee table. Kim was shifting her gaze from the pillow she continued to smooth out to her parents, checking their expressions. It was extremely difficult for her to read their expressions too, Kim couldn't decide on an emotion to pin on them so Kim gave up, waiting for them to respond.
"You're getting married?' her Father finally spoke.
Kim lifted her head from the pillow. "Yes."
Kim's Mother's eyes darted to Kim's hand, "Do you have a ring?"
"Oh! Yes, I took it off so it could, um, be a surprise." Shifting, Kim withdrew the tiny ring from her pocket.
"May I see it?" Mrs Possible asked. Kim nodded and handed it over to her Mother. "It's very lovely," she said, "Very beautiful, you're lucky. It looks like you put a lot into getting a ring like this," she nodded approvingly towards Ron. Ron looked at her blankly and sat a little straighter.
When Kim took it back, she slipped it back onto her ring finger and stared at it for awhile before she asked the question she had been burning to know.
"You guys aren't mad are you?"
Mr and Mrs Possible exchanged looks as if swapping thoughts and immediately responded.
"No!"
"Not at all, why should we be angry?"
"We're thrilled!"
"We always hoped…"
"Congratulations to the both of you."
"It's just…"
"Just what?" Kim thought she'd be furious with such a reaction from her parents but realised she wasn't. She felt more curious and… guilty. It's not that she was sharing the thoughts she knew her parents were about to bring up, right?
Again her parents exchanged looks and Mrs Possible sighed. "Well, it's like what Jim and Tim said."
"You can't be serious."
"… Aren't… it's not that we don't like you, Ron. We really are happy for the both of you. But aren't you two a little…"
"Young?" her Father finally put in.
"You're only eighteen."
"I'll be nineteen at the end of March," Kim retorted but knew it was not the appropriate response. She wondered if she should reveal to her parents about Ron believing he had to propose to Kim on Valentine's Day. That really was the reason they were engaged, after all. But Kim had agreed because she did desire to marry him… eventually.
Kim's composing thoughts were suddenly rattled when her Father abruptly said in an accusatory tone: "You're not pregnant, are you?"
"Wha?!"
"NO!"
"Dad!!"
"We haven't even—" Ron blurted but cut himself off. Now he did one of the few rare things seen in a Ron: he blushed. And he blushed intensely at them. Immediately he stared at the floor.
"Aww, Dad!!" Kim cried, placing a hand upon Ron's back. "Now you scared him."
"Then why else are you getting married so young?"
Now Kim recognised that outrage beginning to boil within her. Ah, it was a hard thing to keep in check, really. It began to stir such thoughts: How could her Father assume such a thought? How could he assume that as the sole reason for Kim and Ron becoming engaged?
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe we just love each other?" Kim spat, glaring. Ron, whose arms were wrapped around his stomach, lifted his head, looking continually spooked.
"O-of course!" Mr Possible stammered, "It's just that—"
"Ron and I have known each other since Preschool," Kim continued distinctively. "We've known each other for a lot longer than most people who get married at, like, age thirty!"
"Kimmie—" But her Mother was cut off.
"You know, I thought the two of you would be happy for us! But I guess I was wrong. It shouldn't matter what age we get engaged. The fact still remains is that we love each other and we know it and we already know we want to be together forever like we have already so what's so wrong about confirming it legally?"
"Kimmie did we say we were happy for you?" her Mother asked in a soft voice.
She paused. "Dad didn't sound it. The way he accused us."
"I'm sorry, Kimmie-Cub. I shouldn't have, you're right. But with most—"
"We aren't 'most' teenagers as you should know!"
"Kim, please! Don't get so angry," Ron finally murmured. He gently leaned against her, still hunched over. His eyes wandered to her parents then dropped to the floor as he said, "Maybe I shouldn't have come, cos, y'know…"
"Ron, don't be!" Mrs Possible said hastily, "You have to admit we were shocked and just wanted to make sure," she added this clearly. "But we are so very happy for you! We always hoped the two of you would be together."
"We did," her Father nodded.
"You did?" Kim blushed, tone becoming gentle again.
"Ever since the two of you were toddlers while we watched the two of you play in the backyard," Kim's Mother added with a wistful smile.
"Mom, that is so embarrassing," Kim grinned while casting her head away.
Mr and Mrs Possible chuckled. "So when do the two of you plan to get married? Are you planning on having a ceremony?"
"I hope?" Mr Possible added.
"Oh! Ummm, well…" Kim twiddled her thumbs.
Ron sat himself up looking extremely relieved and laid himself against the sofa. "We haven't actually thought of that yet."
"In the summer?"
"Maybe."
"Whenever you feel like it?" her Mother was obviously prodding for a definite response.
"I guess."
"Or maybe they can just get married when they finish University," Mr Possible suggested openly, "That would be a nice celebration, wouldn't it?"
"Unless we want sooner, that does sound like a good idea," Kim smiled and nodded. She inclined her head at her now fiancé. "What do you think, Ron?"
Ron shrugged, spreading his arms along the back of the chesterfield. "As long as we get married one day."
Mrs Possible laughed.
"So what did prompt you to propose to Kim?" Mr Possible asked posed this question to Ron.
The boy's eyes popped and his arms slid down onto his lap. "Well, uhh…"
"It's was me," Kim pointed at herself hastily.
"I proposed!" Ron injected haughtily. There wasn't any way he was allowing Kim that credit.
"But we had talked about it beforehand," Kim added. "And we liked the idea so Ron agreed he'd save up for a ring and propose to me."
"Right," Ron replied, this time sounding exhausted.
"So you two must have had this under wraps for a long time," Mrs Possible said.
"Sure felt like it," Ron sighed.
Again her parents laughed and this time Kim was included, but only because she knew the real reason why he had said that. Kim was fretful that if she told her parents the truth behind Ron's proposal, her parents might think it not to be as meaningful as the proposal truly was. It could be just taken as a 'mistake' and perhaps they would try to persuade Kim and Ron to hold off even on the engagement.
"Have you told your parents yet?" Mrs Possible asked of Ron.
"Er, uh, no. But I think Kim 'n I'll go visit 'em to-morrow. Right now, I'm kinda hungry."
You would be, Kim thought darkly.
"My goodness, you're right!" Mrs Possible pushed herself out of her seat and glanced at the clock. "I better go start finishing dinner. It will be ready soon though."
"I can help," Kim said cheerfully, resting the pillow neatly next to herself as she stood up.
"Oh… honey," Mrs Possible cupped her hands. "I really appreciate that, but I'd really like to have Ron help me."
Ron smirked boastfully standing next to Kim as tall as he could. "Heh, yes, because, um Kim? The last time you helped us out in the kitchen, the fire department said the next time you caused another fire they'd have to take you to the police to file you as a pyromaniac. Coming, Mrs Dr P.!" He called as he jogged into the kitchen after her Mother.
"Augh!" Kim let out disdainfully. "I am not. I can cook. Right, Dad?"
Mr Possible had just been lifting up the newspaper from the coffee table when he froze. "Well…"
"Dad! That potluck I made for my end of term dinner for my Home Ec grade last year! You said it was good."
"Yes, I did," her Father admitted, hiding his face behind the newspaper. "But your teacher was sitting right next to me."
Rolling her eyes, Kim decided she'd go into the kitchen and join in whatever conversations her Mother and Ron were having. Although she'd stay well away from any preparations of the food.
During the time Kim chatted with her Mother and Ron in the kitchen as the two cooked together, Kim internally wondered if some front had suddenly been hung up between herself and her family. Perhaps it would show at dinner time when they were all together again and forced to share conversation (especially with the Tweebs there! Kim dreaded that.). She was careful not to show how guarded she was, in case her parents thought her the one with the false mask to cover the previous misunderstanding about her betrothal to Ron.
She was pleasantly proven mistaken.
Of course, Jim and Tim started to tease the moment they trotted down the stairs and parked themselves into their seats at the dinner table. Mrs Possible quickly hushed them with threats of no supper. It worked for the short term for they made small wise-cracks every chance they had. The dinner conversation with her parents was the same as Kim remembered from long ago: of work and school and of life in general.
How joyous it was for Kim to come home from University and find everything to return to how it had been. Ron was usually quiet when he ate with her family, mostly talking to only her as her parents had their own conversations or with her brothers. She dearly hoped that it wasn't Ron that was feeling Kim's previous distance from her parents. Kim only desired for Ron to be as he had been with her parents since he had been a little boy in preschool… and for her parents to continue to see him in that way. Not just as 'the fiancé'.
Kim observed her Father critically inside, knowing he would be the source where any disruption would come from. But he was all grinning and happy with Ron and the two even shared talk about Mr Possible's work at the space station. Nothing was forced or false.
Everything's going to be perfect, Kim thought to herself. They had always been one family hadn't they— including Ron? He had always been accepted by her parents; and the only boy who had ever been granted her Father's permission to share her bed. Surely other boys would have killed for that bestowment.
At first Kim found herself beaming. Then a new thought crossed her mind.
What if her parents didn't really understand the concept of marriage that would apply to Kim and Ron was the same that would have applied to Kim and any other boy? Did they just see it as Kim and Ron being together as a promise? Perhaps they did not see… the other kind of love—other than that intense devotion that had bound them for years?
Kim flushed. Well, they had first assumed I was pregnant so obviously they can think of Ron in that way whether or not they 'allow' it or not…
"Kimmie-cub?"
"Dad!" Kim perked up from her thoughts and shook her fork at her Father. "You have got to stop calling me that! I'm going to be nineteen this March!"
But whatever declaration of age Kim announced to her Father that she had reached as a reason he should stop calling her the nickname he had called her since she was a little always went by without any recognition. Yes, some things, so it seemed, would never change.
After dinner and the after-dinner activities including watching Pals (Kim admitted to Ron that they had surely jumped the shark by now), it was time to retire to bed. Kim and Ron said their sweet-nights' to her parents and departed up the loft stairs into her bedroom.
Stepping inside, Kim flicked on the light and the lava lamp Ron had given her years ago to match the one she had given him. Now she was able to have a good, long look at her old room. It still felt like her room.
Yes, this was her bedroom, not that hole in the sorority. Oh the memories that had occurred in this room! Every spot Kim laid her eyes upon brought forth some memory of her and Ron and their long journey to their final togetherness.
There… the place she had struck him on the check. There!— where he had been overpowered by his Mystical Monkey Power wanting her. And there… on the bed where they had told each other they were in love. And there… Yes. This room contributed so much to the locations of their relationship landmarks. And yet even so. She could enter this room and not have a darkened cloud of the past's cruel memories erode inside her. She could still step forcefully and proudly into this room and hold her head high—never wavering in the slightest. She wished Ron could… was feeling this too.
Ron stretched his arms behind his back and expanded his ribcage, giving a sigh.
"This room still feels like home to me," he said, observing Kim's bedroom. It seemed to give answer to Kim's internal wish for him.
Then her eyes flickered as another… more recent memory returned to her.
Walking past Ron, Kim let out a snort but said nothing. Curiously, Ron walked forwards to try and glimpse her expression but she was being rather tactful at avoiding his eyes. Bouncing himself down on her bed, he leaned back on his arms and regarded her.
Uh-oh, something's up… Although Ron had no notion to what it could be about. Certainly he didn't do anything wrong while visiting her 'rents, right?
Ah, now I know, he nodded, She's going to go into a rant about revealing the marriage thing to her parents. Or maybe about her brothers. Well, nothin's gonna avoid it so might as well tip the lid now.
"KP."
She twitched at the mention of her name yet did not turn to face him.
"So how'd you think it went?" Ron ventured, sounding rhetorical on purpose which was just the bait for Kim's response.
With stealthy eyes, he watched her body language intently. Ron had been trained since near birth to pick up on Kim's cues. He knew every movement of hers; what every twitch, sigh and blink meant. He could be the world's most forward professor on Kims if such a position ever existed. It sometimes made Ron exasperated to witness how poorly some people handled Kim and could set her.
"Didn't say much myself but I think you took control of things as best you could. At least your Dad isn't preparing that black hole for me, right?" and he left her to fill in the blanks.
Only, she didn't go for it. That full-blown rant Ron had left for her did not implode. No, Kim said…
"Yea, I thought so too! I mean, I knew they were going to be a little wary at first; I didn't want to say that to you to scare you or anything because I knew they'd be okay with it in the end. And they were! You're already like part of the family." She gave grunt and rolled her eyes, waving a hand in the air, "And the Tweebs acted as I knew they would. There isn't anything to stop that from happening. But whatever, I just wish they hadn't done it when we were telling Mom and Dad. You know, at dinner, I thought things would be tense and awkward—but they weren't! Didn't you notice? I did. I—"
"Can I put a cork right there?" Ron laughed. "I had been expecting a rant from you, not a full-scale attack of chatter! Yea, we just got to wait out the actual marriage thing and I'm down with that if you are." He yawned. "Maybe it'll… it'll…" he yawned again, "Keep that jock-man away from you."
Kim stood by the bed, blinking over him. "Why did you think I was going to rant?" She sounded nervous; Ron opened a closed eye to watch her fidget anxiously.
"Because of the way you were acting. Like now."
"Like how?"
"Like you're worried 'bout something, that's what."
"No…"
Ron sat up, taking up a serious face. He patted the space on the bed next to him, indicating Kim should sit. She didn't, she walked back in front of him, but refused to seat herself. That wasn't good news either, Ron grimaced. Somethin's seriously on her mind…
"What's up?"
"I—"
"Okay, rule numero uno of being almost married," Ron butt in smartly, lifting a finger. "No keeping stuff from each other. We know what happened last time you kept a secret, oh yes we did. So now you're obligated to spill it out." His eyes bore into hers, absolutely unyielding to Kim's desperate ones. He wouldn't break. But it seemed that being stern with her wasn't going to work either. Ron knew what to do.
Ron reached out for Kim's hands and clasped them in hers. She gave a soft gasp when he gently manoeuvred her onto his lap. He nuzzled her gently and heard her give a sniff. Yes, he was an expert at handling Kims.
"What's bothering you so much, Kimbo? You sound really upset; you should tell me, you know that." He gave her cheek a small lick.
Flushing, Kim leapt out of his arms and away from him. Now Ron was positively baffled. He let her see this in his eyes and hers still remained fretful. Although it was his hurt curiosity broke Kim down and she threw up her arms in exasperation.
"The Rules! That's what's bothering me."
Ron frowned. "Which 'Rules'?"
"The one regarding what happened this afternoon."
"What happened this afternoon?"
Kim made a choking sound within her throat and her eyes narrowed. Ron knew she was losing her temper; he sighed.
"When I found you on the floor coughing up the blood— that this afternoon! You know, you don't exactly forget a sight like that very easily. At least I don't!"
"KP—"
"You're sleeping downstairs to-night."
Ron fell silent.
"Don't make this more difficult than it already is, Ron." Did her voice begin to tremble? No, had to be his imagination. "Don't give me any of that… that…what you do to try and make me change my mind. None of that. Suck it up, Ron."
"KP!"
"You should go now."
"Already! Kim, can't we even just hang or ta—"
"You know where the pillows and blankets are stored."
Ron stared hard at the floor. It took awhile for him to move.
"Ron." Kim shook her head, her voice defiant. "Don't make this harder than it already is."
It was then that Ron lifted his face and now it was his expression that had become desperate and hurt.
"You're going to make me sleep downstairs?" he asked blankly. "After what happened to me? After… Kim, it was horrible and I didn't want—"
Kim sat gingerly at the edge of her bed, careful to avoid Ron's eyes. She knew how they would be and how she would feel if she met them. It was a lot harder for her to be stern with him than she supposed she came across.
"You know the rules," she replied delicately.
Ron blew out a sigh then heaved himself off her bed. He wavered slightly, standing next to it and her before taking a forceful step away.
"Yea," he said, his tone darkening for only a moment. "I know the Rules. I know them so well by now."
Kim opened her mouth but no sound came out as Ron quietly, and impassively, left her room, his blonde head disappearing as he traipsed down her loft stairs and out of side. For a slight minute, Kim felt her heart begin to beat and a panic course through her. She leaned as far as she could on the bed to try and catch one last glimpse of Ron—but she couldn't even see past the first few steps.
Pulling back, Kim turned her head away, thoughts coursing through her mind. It was challenging, even more so now after the terrifying time he must've had while he coughed up the blood in her arms. He should have comfort and solace for such a terrorizing ordeal. And Kim wanted to gift him with that comfort and solace… so… so much. But how could she if that terrifying time of Ron's was initiated through an act that deserved punishment?
Was it becoming better? This problem of Ron's?
There had been that time when she hadn't been able to help him as closely as she could have. But even so! Last year, on her birthday—he promised he would allow her to help. He acknowledged what he did was damaging him and that if she could guide him; he would be willing to stop. Ron would listen to her and puff his chest with pride when he ate moderately and followed her after the meal without taking a diversion to the washroom to cough it all up. He took his pills too. The times when Kim found that Ron had given in to his cravings were far and spaced apart. Once he had managed three times a month—that was his record that Kim knew. She had been so impressed with him that month and had pampered him for it. She thought that if she returned him with a great reward for his good behaviour, it would persuade him to strive for it again— for something better than before and in achieving that, he would have to give in to his craving less.
But it wasn't happening that way.
Stress was a key factor to his giving in; as was solitude and damaged feelings. But there had been none of that; none of that in such a long time. Yes, they had improved with his purging. But that 'had' was just that. A 'had', not a 'were'—not a were improving.
Because it seems we've come at a stand still. Kim admitted this to herself. It's as if I can do no more to help him! Like he's always going to give in at least a few times a month and there's nothing that can be done for what… the rest of his life?
Was that acceptable?
To Kim's determination and can-do attitude, it wasn't.
There has to be that place in time where he can stop forever. People have done it before, why not Ron?
She had talked with him about it on those rare nights—just the two of them.
They would sit close and hold one another, feeling and receiving nothing but the other with their heads tilted upon the other. Kim would whisper to him, talk to him through-out the night and it would be one of those rare moments that they could not have during the day when they were completely and one-hundred percent open to each other like no other time, so raw. Everything was taken down and their personalities left naked. Those talks… so deep, so personal, for only one another that they shared and was to be hidden from their other sides.
Ron would be so honest in his emotions and feelings. He would say it all clearly for how it was for him. But those nights were hard to achieve, it was not that they could just sit beside one another and start talking. Even as Kim reflected, she could not remember how their conversations lead to such a shared openness.
Yet Kim recalled that even those nights were no longer helping him. So what could she do? What was left for her to aid Ron? Just apply him to these…
These stupid 'Rules'? That make us both upset and angry? This is the only thing left in our way—why can't I fix it
From there, Kim flopped herself on her bed backwards and let out a long groan. Now how on earth was she possibly supposed to have any sleep that night?
If she did, then it was very few and broken constantly by her dreams and thoughts. She would wake to find her heart beating fast and felt her body seized with an inexplicable urgency to uncover a solution. Why? She would ask herself. Why am I feeling this rush? She blamed it on the recent conversations of matrimony.
She wanted this over and done with before they were married. Her marriage to Ron should have no more such issues of the past troubles. Those past troubles had allowed them to learn and grow, yes. They had that all of that now and would have it again after Ron dealt with this last sitch. She and Ron would return to that state of how they had always been and were now—that wondrous balance of who they were.
It was then that Kim realised that daylight was spreading across her room. No, it couldn't be morning already? But it was, or so the clock next to her bed stand told her.
Nervously, Kim sat up, pushing her frazzled hair back and tugged down her pyjama top. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore. No, there was that feeling inside of her again and it was urging her to tip-toe downstairs to check on Ron. It was still quite early in the morn and there wasn't any possible way Ron would be awake. Surely he wasn't camping out at the base of her loft stairs?
Snatching her house coat and slipping it on, she lifted the loft door that she had closed before retiring for bed and found the bottom Ronless. Was she glad? She was nothing.
Instead her bare feet pattered, wanting to stick to the steps as she fled around the corner and then down the carpeted stairs into the ground floor living room. She sighed to herself once she spotted Ron sound asleep on the chesterfield with the sofa's blanket thrown on top of him.
Kim stepped close and knelt next to him. Rufus was curled by Ron's chin and his face was on its side, his mouth parted and his head hung slightly back buried into the pillow. His glasses were folded neatly in front of the telephone on the chesterfield's side table. Kim smiled to herself and picked up his hanging hand to tuck it underneath the sheet.
See? You can sleep without me, silly.
But her teasing only went one way and did not console herself. Her expression changing, she frowned and decided to fix herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves. She had thought that after checking on Ron, she would calm down. On the contrary, the buzzing within never left.
Because the sitch hasn't been solved yet, that's what. She grumbled. Ron was coughing up blood! This is getting serious, I have to do something quickly before it gets even worse but what? What?! He could… blood… he was so close to… so close and so damaged… I can't—
"Mom!"
Kim was shaken to see her Mother in the kitchen at this hour. Looking up from her laptop, her Mother appeared equally surprised to see Kim. Still, this didn't perturb Kim enough to return to bed. She continued on her way to the cabinets to make herself that early morning cup of tea for her nerves' sake.
"I wasn't expecting to see you down here so early," her Mother commented the exact thoughts Kim had been sharing about her. "Is something wrong?"
Preparing the kettle, Kim gave a lifeless shrug. "I woke up and couldn't get to sleep. Unlike Ron, some of us can't sleep at the drop of a hat." Although Kim's focus was on the kettle and her tea, she had the sensation that her Mother was watching her acutely.
I was always suspicious that Moms were telepathic.
"Is there something going on between you and Ron?"
Aha. I was right all along. Now this direct question did startle Kim.
"What in the world makes you think that?" she frowned.
"Well," her Mother began to explain, "When I came down the stairs, I noticed Ron sleeping on the sofa in the den. I thought he would have been sleeping with you." There was a moments of pause but Kim could tell her Mother wasn't yet done talking. "Are you just doing this to try and 'calm' your Father and myself? We've let the two of you share a bed countless time before and you weren't even engaged back then."
"Oh, no," Kim laughed nervously, picking up a cup. "No, don't worry. It's not that at all."
"Then there must be some trouble," her Mother murmured quietly.
Kim faltered. Wow, I totally fell into that one, now didn't I?
"You don't have to talk about it, Kimmie," her Mother continued when Kim did not respond. "I only thought you may like someone to listen to you. I'm not sure if you have much of that at the University other than Ron."
"I don't," Kim found herself agreeing with her Mother. "Not that that bothers me. Because…" Kim gingerly poured her cup full of steaming warm tea. "Because Ron is all that I need, it's just…"
" 'What if he's the problem'?" her Mother finished.
"Yea, that," Kim joined her Mother at the Breakfast table and took a slow, cautious sip of the tea. It felt consoling to swallow the sweet, warm liquid.
Kim contemplated a thought. "Ok…I have this 'friend'… Ok, yea, it's Ron," she gave in when her Mother lifted one single eyebrow. "Ron…" she took in a deep breath.
She had never told anyone about Ron's eating disorder before and hadn't Ron, way back, long ago, told her never to tell anyone? Wade had found out on his own super-genius power but this… this would be breaking Ron's promise. Could she do that? Was it okay to break a promise no matter what, even if it was at the friend's health risk?
Even to the degree that he was bringing up blood? Kim stared down into the pool of tea and watched her reflection swim vaguely beneath her.
"Did he make you promise not to tell?"
"Ah," again, her Mother had this knack for startling Kim (and for being right…).
"You know, Kimmie," her Mother spoke calmly.
Nervously awaiting her Mother's upcoming speech, Kim shifted herself nervously and cast a wary glance behind her and into the living room where Ron slept.
"I always taught you when you were little to keep secrets and it makes me happy to see that you still honour that as you've gotten older."
Kim flushed.
"But I also taught you that there is also a time when it is okay to break a promise." Kim gave her Mother a pitiful, almost pleading look to be granted this permission to spill her worries. Mrs Possible met her daughter's eyes and held them mercilessly. "If the promise is hurting Ron, or anyone around him, then it's a promise that is okay to break."
Guiltily, Kim hung her head. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke, not just because Ron was asleep in the next room but because even with her Mother's comfort (and Kim knew her Mother was right) it still felt so treacherous… so taboo to ever say it aloud.
"Ron has… he's… bulimic."
There was a brief pause of silence before Mrs Possible finally nodded her head.
"Mm," she acknowledged knowingly. "I was always curious, but never said anything. It makes sense. Poor boy… He must be so confused…"
Kim gritted her teeth, frozen. "You… you knew?! How is it that everyone in the whole world finds it obvious but me?! I bet Drakken knows! I bet Mr Barkin knows! I bet that guy in Sweden knows! Everyone but me!" Kim fought to keep her voice no louder than a whisper. "I found out by accident when I went through—when I saw his medicine and looked up what it was for online!" Then she appealed more desperately, "How is it that you know? Did he tell you?"
Kim's Mother smiled complacently towards her daughter. "No, I didn't know for certain but I had my suspicions. You see, his Mother is bulimic—"
"He told me," Kim murmured.
"Yes, it was something she would confide in me."
"How long ago did she first tell you?"
"Oh, goodness, this was years ago. When you and Ron were very little. I remember a few years ago, walking down the hallway and hearing some coughing coming from the bathroom, I turned curiously and then after a pause, Ron came out looking disorientated. He appeared embarrassed when he saw me but shook it off, popping a mint into his mouth before rejoining with you downstairs. It was then that I became suspicious after already knowing about his Mother. Did Ron say when he started it? He had to have picked it up from her."
"Middle teens," Kim replied softly, shrugging. "He did, Ron told me that too. He would see her when he was younger all the time and knew it was the solution for his," Kim gave a course laugh, " 'Bueno Nacho Lovings'. Mom, it's been a year since he revealed that I knew his 'secret' and promised to let me help him but…"
And then Kim felt herself unravel, for all the times she had to be strong and wish that to-morrow would be a better day for his illness. Depleted from staying strong all those times, Kim appealed desperately, "But nothing's working! At times he does better but always… always… he just… I don't understand, Mom…" Kim gripped her hair with her hand and hung her head over the table. "Why is this so hard? I want this over with before we're married."
"Sweetie, it's not as easy as it sounds for Ron. It's not as easy as just… telling yourself to wear the yellow shirt instead of the green one from now on. If it's been this many years, than it must be a strong addiction for him."
"I don't get it," Kim snorted, incredulous, "Then just stop. And do other things!"
"Kimmie, the addiction is not just physical, but mental as well."
"But all the reasons for him to do it are not an issue for us anymore!"
"I'm trying to make you understand," her Mother responded, leaning forwards. "Even so, it's become a habit for him over the years. It's like it's been engraved into his understanding—"
"But he has me. A-and those pills from his Mother! I can't believe she knows and this is the only way she helps him…"
"It's the only way she understands to help him, as she does for herself," Mrs Possible explained. "She does care about him—"
"Even if she calls him an 'accident'?" Kim spat back harshly. "I'm the only one who cares for him. Who loves him."
"I know it's hard for you to grasp, Kimmie," Kim lifted her head to her Mother. "I can see that you love Ron very dearly. You protect him so fiercely," she laughed lightly, enticing a smile onto Kim's face. "Even when the two of you were little. You protected him like a mother bear. It was so plain for anyone to see that 'he was yours'. You never allowed anyone to come near him who meant him any harm or whom you found suspicious. None of this has changed."
Intensely, Kim blushed and cast her head towards.
"But there are other people who care for him as well, but show their love for him differently than you do."
Kim kept her head down, her eyes flickering with doubt at that sentence. "Then why don't the pills work?" Kim mumbled.
"I imagine either because he's not taking them as prescribed or because his mind has already reached such a critical level that his own subconscious over-powers the effects of the pills." Mrs Possible attempted another smile to enlighten Kim's mood, "You and I both know Ron frets easily."
"Yea, he's a total Drama Queen like that. But he's not, like, depressed or obsessing about his weight or anything like that."
"He doesn't have to be anymore, as I told you. Can you imagine eating a whole ton and then feeling intensely guilty about it? So much that it's constantly on your mind until your purge no matter what you try to do to distract yourself? That's what it would be like for him, only when he expects relief from the purge, he probably feels even more guilty than before."
Kim's Mother tapped her chin in thought. "For you, say you found a style of sweater you loved and it came in blue and pink but you weren't sure which colour would match your shirts at home. So you buy the pink one and bring it home. It doesn't match as you thought it did, then you fret about the blue one constantly, they were only a few left after all, until you go back to the store and buy the blue one only to feel guilty that you spent double the money afterwards."
Well, if she put it like that…
Kim's eyes darted around the surface of the table with no direction. Should Kim tell her Mother about Ron's recent blood-coughing? Her Mother was a doctor, but then she might force Ron away from her to take him into the hospital and… Kim cast a look behind her and barely saw the top of Ron's head on the chesterfield. And he looked too peaceful to disturb.
"What should I do?" she asked softly. "What can I do?"
Reaching out, Kim instantly felt a wave of apprehension as her Mother placed a hand on top of her own. Shuddering, Kim looked up into her Mother's eyes that stared into Kim's own. Her Mother wouldn't let her go now, and Kim knew what her Mother had to say next would be something Kim needed… and didn't want… to hear.
"You love Ron so much, and you have the best of intentions for him. But, Kimmie, there are… some things one can not do alone." There was a pause. "There are places to help him. Places than know and can do things that you cannot. Sometimes, help has to come from somewhere else to truly apply to a person. Although no-one doubts the determination you have for him. This is how you can help him."
As she expected she would be, Kim found herself speechless, staring at her Mother. Slipping her hand off her daughters, Mrs Possible packed up the laptop and placed her cup of coffee soundlessly into the sink.
"It's time I headed to the hospital," she told Kim quietly from the doorframe. Kim felt the bags under her eyes as she watched her Mother leave the kitchen treading softly across the carpet and up the stairs.
Kim was now left alone with these thoughts, these thoughts she had been so defiant to stay away from. But her Mother always had this ability to reveal to Kim the path she had boarded up in a new light or at least a more understanding light.
Gazing down at her reflection within the tea cup, Kim watched as her own breathing caused ripples distorting her own image along with the placid surface of the tea.
She hoped there was nothing symbolic in that.
