BE,S 4: Paint Me a Christmas Memory Chapter 4 – O, Blessed Night, a kim possible fanfic

Blue Eyes, Shining 4: Paint Me a Christmas Memory

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: Kim Possible and all the characters of the show are owned by the Disney Company. The original lyrics to the songs referenced in this story and the music are the property of the respective authors, artists and labels. All other characters can be blamed on the author (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions at all times, being barely responsible for himself most of the time). This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.

A/N Forward:

It's Christmas Eve, and miracles can happen….

Some presents have already been given, and some (but not all) are under the Load tree. Some people are waking up happy, and some are waking up scared, on December 24, Christmas Eve: next, in chapter 4 of Paint Me a Christmas Memory – 12.24: O, Blessed Night…

Thanks again for reading, and please review.

Chapter 4 – 12/24: O, Blessed Night...

- - - - - - -

12/24

Rachel thought she was dreaming, again.

They were cooking, again!

She smelled coffee, same as yesterday, but neither eggs nor bacon….

She reached over to shake Ryan and found an empty spot, again.

'They were serious,' she grinned inside as she rolled out of bed and padded to the shower again.

Rachel turned on the shower and let her nightgown drop to the floor, kicking it up and catching it in mid-air, again.

She did her morning bends: she bent over backward and touched the floor, then bent forward and did the same. 'So NOT the drama, girlfriend!' she thought, and giggled out loud.

She reached in, checked the water temperature, and stepped into the shower.

- - - - - - -

Betty knew she wasn't dreaming, this time…but she reached up and touched her neck to make sure….

'He really did!' and she felt the pearls that Slim had given her last night. "He gave me the most beautiful necklace I've ever seen!'

No cooking smell: she was back in her apartment. She pouted, grinned, and opened her eye.

She smelled coffee, just the way she liked it: Navy coffee, strong to put hair on a midshipwoman's elbows. It was her coffeepot: she remembered setting it up last night.

She longed for the smell of eggs and bacon grilling, habaneros and red onions and garlic chopped…

She longed for the smell of Slim Possible.

'That's it: I've got to propose to him if he won't move, even if it costs me him,' and she bounced out of bed and headed for her shower, carefully removing and kissing her pearls and placing them back in the box.

She did a quick shower, got out and dried herself, and went to the mirror and looked at her face, then scrunched it and grinned.

'You proceed, woman!' she decided as she put on her scant makeup, added her patch over the eye, powdered, and walked thru a spray of 'Obsessed!' and headed back to get dressed, stopping long enough to pour a cup of coffee and take a drink.

"GAACCCCKKKKK!" and she poured the contents of both her cup and the pot down the sink. Sadly, she got dressed: sad because she had no coffee, sad because she couldn't wear her pearls with her uniform, and sad because there was no Slim with her..

- - - - - - -

Joss woke up with a sore neck, and it felt wonderful. But her pillow was hard…and wet….

She opened one eye and saw Wade grinning back at her, drool spooled off the side of his face.

"Is that drool for me?" Joss asked, and laughed as Wade pulled his shirt up and wiped his face with a part of it.

"I should ask you the same question," was Wade's response, and Joss felt her face and found the drool spool. She grinned wickedly as she reached down to mirror Wade's wiping motion, and Wade panicked but calmed as she produced a tissue and dabbed her face.

Joss was feeling wicked this morning.

"Wade, I think we just slept together," she commented innocently, and Wade's eyes grew huge, then he grinned wickedly.

"Was it as good for you as it was for me?" Wade asked, and Joss sputtered and blushed.

"WADE!" and she took off after him; he had already figured out what her reaction would be, and he was already up and heading out the door when she processed his question.

She caught him in the hall, where he had stopped and waited for her, and she gave him a 'rock your world' kiss.

Wade responded, in kind.

Slim stuck his head out into the hall, saw the couple, and yelled, "Get a Room in 8 years!" and pulled his head back, laughing.

- - - - - - -

beep.

Now, a bit faster:

beep.

Becky was barely awake when she heard the beeps change their rhythm, and she looked up and saw her dream:

"Fletch!" and she stood and kissed his cheek, and his one unswollen eye shed a bit of a tear. His mother and father stood up and walked, almost ran, to the bed, each touching Fletcher's cheek and looking at the bandages on top of his head.

"mmMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMMM."

"You've got a tube down your throat, Fletch.

"Do you remember what happened?"

Fletcher nodded.

"Was it Carl?"

The beeps got faster, and a nurse walked in at that time.

beep.

"Ma'am, you shouldn't be in here," she said as she checked the lines and the connections on Fletcher.

"Nurse, please: he's my brother," Becky lied, and Fletcher's parents didn't correct her.

"Well….it's early, but OK," and she turned and opened the door, and a doctor and person in a suit with a badge on his belt came in the door.

"Good morning, Mr. Benge," and the doctor went thru the process and removed the tube from Fletcher's throat.

A second person with a badge came into the room, this one a blonde woman.

"Mr. Fletcher Benge?" the blonde woman spoke. "I'm Mel Claremore with Montana Department of Criminal Investigations, or DCI. With me is Agent Norman Mailin with the DEA. We'd like to ask you a few questions; if you'd like your lawyer present, we can wait. I have started audio recording of this discussion and will stop it in and when you request recording to cease.

"I….got….hurt…" he rasped, and pointed at Becky and his throat. She got him an ice chop and placed it in his mouth, and he looked noticeably relieved.

"We know you were attached, Mr. Benge. Do you want your lawyer present?" and Fletcher shook his head 'No.'

"There are witnesses present. Do you all concur that Mr. Benge answered 'No' to the question of having a lawyer present?

"I concur," the nurse stated.

"I agree," Becky stated, also.

"Very well. Were you injured before you entered that house?"

"No."

"Were you injured while you were inside the house?"

"Yes," he squeaked, and Becky hurt inside as she saw her boyfriend struggle to talk.

"Do you know who hurt you in the house, Mr. Benge?"

"Yes…Carl….Butler…and…two…others," and he noticeably slumped back, and the nurse checked the monitors.

"Gentlemen, that's all for now," the doctor stated. "You will have to come back tomorrow for more."

"We have enough for a start," Mel stated as Norman stopped the recording. "We have enough to begin a 'discussion' with Carl Butler.

"Thank you, Mr. Benge," and Mel and Norman left the room.

beep.

Betty kissed his cheek, and turned so he wouldn't see her tears.

beep.

- - - - - - -

Betty had gone to the office for a quick meeting and came home to change before going to her afternoon meeting with Kim and others.

Betty came into the front of the church choir room, and the choir director waved at her. She picked up her music and headed out to the sanctuary.

Kim was already out there, talking to one of the students from school that sang in the choir.

"Kim," Betty spoke, and Kim looked up with a big smile on her face.

"Betty!" and she ran over and hugged the Director of Global Justice.

"Thanks for giving me this chance," Kim added as she picked up a piece of music.

"Kim, Betty, thank you for agreeing to do this," the director came out along with the rest of the choir, who all went to seats in the loft and sat.

"Do either of you need to warm up?" and they both shook their heads.

"Very well. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's do a quick run-through of their piece, first. We wouldn't want to interfere with saving the world," and the choir chuckled and Kim blushed.

"Ready?" he took his podium, and the musicians were ready, and he started the rehearsal.

- - - - - - -

"Kim, that was beautiful," Betty told her as they walked out of the church after the rehearsal.

"Aw, Betty, it was 'No Big,'" Kim said, and Betty corrected her, again.

"Yes, it is Big, Kim. You're going to make several people very happy tonight.

"I know, Betty, I just wish I could do more," Kim groused as she got into her car. Betty leaned on Kim's driver-side door.

"Kim, we had this talk back on 9/11 this year. You can't do it all. You can, however, make Joss smile and have a good cry by helping her like you did yesterday in coordinating Wade's request to your mom.

"But, I didn't do much."

"You did all that you needed to do. And, you offered to pray for her friend: that meant more than everything else, Kim."

"If you say so, Betty," and Kim started her car and shifted into reverse.

"I do say so, Kim. See you tonight at 9:30 for warm-ups," and Betty backed away from the car door as Kim backed out.

'Like an angel,' Betty thought as she went to her car, and chuckled as she remembered Kim's first time as an angel in public and the disastrous results, at least from Kim's young perspective.

- - - - - - -

"MOM?"

Rachel stuck her head into Wade's room.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what, son?"

"You know," and he stepped out in a gray pinstripe suit jacket that fit him quite well. "You had all of my suits tailored. But, how?" and Rachel grinned.

"Battle suit fitting for Wade," and Rachel chuckled.

"MOM!" and Rachel walked away, whistling, having given her son a taste of his own medicine.

- - - - - - -

"Is everyone ready?" Rachel called, and Ryan was the first out.

"Honey, I want you back in our room if you look that good," Rachel grinned as she looked Ryan over.

He had a sharp blue almost-invisible pin-striped suit, a very pale yellow shirt, and a sharp blue-and-Grey tie.

"You're not half-bad yourself, Rachel," and he whistled approvingly as she twirled around, her dress flaring slightly. She wore a black halter dress with a full skirt, and she had a black-and-red shawl covering her shoulders and back.

"Did Jocelyn come out yet?" Slim came out wearing a western suit and bolo tie, hat in hand.

"Not yet, Slim. She's changing, again, she told me from behind her door," Wade came from her direction, his Grey pinstripe suit fitting him to a tee, and his white shirt was crisply starched to complement his red rep tie.

"Ah'm ready, y'all," and Joss stepped out and took Wade's breath away.

She wore a dark-green (almost black)-and-white kimono dress, and a pair of low heels with hose on her legs completed the package. She was carrying her long white coat over her arm.

'I love those legs, even better out of boots,' was Wade's thought, and then he had another.

BAD WADE!

BAM!

BAD WADE!

BAM!

BAD WADE!

BAM!

The virtual head-banging brought him back to his senses, and he noticed that, for the first time that he could remember, she was wearing a very light touch of makeup, some eye shadow and some lipstick.

'She is a vision,' he thought. "And, she picked me!" and he grinned inside. 'I wonder what that lipstick tastes like,' he grinned outside this time.

"Is this mah little gurl?" Slim's voice was just above a whisper, and Joss nodded.

"You're beautiful, Jocelyn," Slim stated, and she blushed.

"Thank you, Daddy," and Wade walked up to her and took her coat, holding it for her to put on. He then crooked his arm, and Joss took it.

"I'm ready," Wade announced.

- - - - - - -

"Wade!"

Two young men ran toward Wade and Joss, and they pulled up before slamming into the couple.

"Whoa, Wade, I heard you finally beat it, but nobody told me about her!" and he whistled.

"Jamie! How's it hangin'?"

"Obviously, not as good as you, my man.

"Pardon his manners, Miss: he gets like this all the time, and forgets his head. It's all of those brains," and Joss giggled.

"I'm Jamie Nolan," and the African-American young teen stuck out his hand.

"I'm Jocelyn Possible," Joss replied, and shook his hand.

"I should have known. Wade: she's lots prettier than Kim. How'd you luck out and find her, and does she have a sister or three?"

Joss giggled again, and Jamie feigned a swoon.

"I'm in love, Wade," and Jamie grinned, "You'd better keep your eyes on her and treat her right, or I'll take her home with me and worship her myself," and Wade laughed with and at his old friend from day care, years ago.

"Sorry, Jamie, she's definitely one of a kind, and she's my girlfriend," Wade smiled serenely, and Jamie pantomimed a knife into his heart.

"You're killing me, man," he replied.

"Later, Wade: I'll come over after Christmas, and we can talk. I've got Zombie Mayhem 6."

"I'm John Garcia Dean, Miss Possible," the other person finally was able to speak.

"Please ignore the ramblings of his untrained mind, Miss Possible," the young Hispanic teen told her as he stuck his hand out. "Mucho gusto."

"El gusto es mio," Joss replied, and John grinned.

"You've got a keeper, Wade," and John took her hand, kissed it, and ran off to catch Jamie.

"Spanish, Joss?" Wade asked.

"Two years, Wade, and a little Esperanto, also," Joss replied, "and Ah'm plannin' to take more Spanish and other languages, too.

"Old 'Wade posse' members?" Joss asked, and Wade grinned.

"From day care," he completed, and she grinned.

"Gee, Wade, Ah guess you and Kim do have somethin' in common," and he swatted at her rear as they moved closer to the church front door.

A woman in a long black cassock with a multi-colored stole was greeting people at the door, an her smile grew huge when she saw the Loads walk up.

"Dr. Load, Dr. Load, welcome. I see you have guests, and a very pleasant surprise!

"Hello, Dr. Load," and Shannon Callahan smiled as she shook Wade's hand.

"Hello, Shannon. I'm glad to be here," Wade smiled, and Shannon smiled back.

"Not as happy as I am to see you out, Wade. And, your young lady is…?"

"Jocelyn Possible, ma'am," and Joss smiled at the woman.

"Jocelyn, hello. I'm Shannon Callahan, senior pastor of this church.

"Shannon, this is Jocelyn's father, Slim Possible," and Shannon smiled.

"James' brother, I assume?"

"Why, yes ma'am. How'd you know?"

"Besides the last name and the red-headed daughters? The eyes: you both have your mother's eyes."

"Guilty as charged, ma'am," and Slim smiled.

"Slim!" Dr. James Timothy Possible came up with his lovely wife Dr. Anne Possible and their twin sons Jim and Tim Possible. Anne was radiant in a long tan winter coat and boots, and Jim and Tim were wrestling with their ties and suits. James had on a sharp navy-blue suit and a white shirt accented by a red tie.

"Squirt!" and Slim and James exchanged an appropriately manly hug, and the twins laughed, but stopped when their mother stared at them. Joss, watching the entire event, giggled, and that drew James' attention to her.

"Young lady," he stared at her for a moment, then smiled. "you look wonderful!" and James bent down a bit and hugged Joss.

"Thanks, Uncle Jim." Joss smiled as he pulled back.

"And, Wade: it's great to see you here," James shook his hand.

"It's good to be here," Wade agreed.

"Rachel, always a pleasure, and looking as lovely as ever," James added as he kissed her cheek.

"Rachel," and Anne went to her and hugged her.

"I told you your dream would come true," Anne whispered to Rachel, and Rachel nodded.

"Let's go in and get a good spot: I hear the choir has something special planned for tonight." And James led the way.

"Where's Kimmie?" Rachel asked.

"She had an emergency come up, but she said she'd be here tonight," Anne replied. "What about Betty?"

"She said the same thing," Slim answered, patting his coat pocket nervously. 'I sure hope so.'

- - - - - - -

Becky came back into Fletcher's room later in the evening after she'd been sent home by Fletcher's mom to grab a bite and get some sleep.

"How's my angel, Becky?" Fletcher asked as she closed the door.

"I'm fine, Fletch. How are you feeling?" she walked over to him, kissed his cheek, and sat in the chair next to the bed.

"Like I got beat up by an ugly group of jokers," Fletcher joked, then winced as a pain hit his chest, but it passed.

"Fletch, how's your head?"

"Hurts like hell, but fine. Why?"

"Did your mom tell you who did that operation?"

"Not specifically: she just said it was a lady doctor."

"That lady doctor was Anne Possible, Joss' aunt from Colorado, Fletch."

"Colorado? Why'd she have to come up here?"

"Jen called Joss, and Joss and her 'boyfriend,'" Becky still could not believe what had happened, "arranged for her to get flown up here by Global Justice and do the surgery. You know which 'boyfriend' I'm talking about, don't you?" she almost couldn't say the words, she was so angry and worried at the same time.

"Becky, amp it down. I apologized to Joss back in the fall after we dumped on her, and she accepted my apology. I'm sure glad I did," Fletch added, and winced as another twitch hit his chest, this one causing the beeps to increase and drawing a nurse.

"Are you all right, sir?"

"I'm fine; I just must'a twisted wrong in the bed," Fletch replied.

"I'll get the doctor to come and look at the readings," and she turned and left the room.

"You know what he is, Fletch, don't you?"

"Yea: he's the guy who got the woman up here to save my life, Becky.

"Let it go, Becky, please, for me. It's not worth your worry," and Fletch smiled, then winced as a tiny pain started in his chest, again, and moved to his arm. It went away, and he didn't worry about it.

- - - - - - -

"Tonight, we have some special visitors: Would all of our visitors please stand, and members greet them in love?" Shannon announced, and the visitors slowly stood and were greeted by church members around them. Jocelyn seemed to draw an inordinate number of young men her way to greet her, and she loved the attention.

Wade didn't jell: he knew where she was sitting: with him!

"Before we have tonight's featured musical work, I'd like to say a special welcome to a young man who literally risked his life to save us all earlier this year, and he's here with us tonight for the first time in a long time. Wade, would you please stand so we can properly thank you?" and Wade stood to thunderous applause that turned into a standing ovation.

Wade stood there, almost like a deer in the headlights, and Joss tugged on his coat to get his attention. That woke him, and he finally sat down as the applause continued, increasing when Joss leaned over and kissed his cheek, then gradually died out after over a minute or two.

"It's right that Wade's here, because someone asked to do something to thank him tonight," and Betty came out wearing a white choir robe.

'An angel,' were the thoughts of both Joss and Slim along with most of the rest of the congregation.

"Wade and Slim: this is for y'all," and the congregation tittered at Betty's western slang, and then the director moved to the podium.

The congregation grew quiet, and he pointed at the harpist and began to conduct the opening with her, alone, playing.

After the short opening, Betty began to sing:

- - - - - - -

(Betty):

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
- - - - - - -

beep.

Fletcher had one massive twitch in his chest, and his eyes rolled back into his head.

beep.

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Becky looked up suddenly when the beeps turned into a solid sound, and she screamed:

"Fletch, what's wrong? Fletch, talk to me!"

The nurse came running back in, yelling "He's flat-lined!" as she hits the panic button and she pushed Becky aside and shoved the bed-rail down and started to pump on Fletcher's chest. "Starting CPR!"

- - - - - - -

(Betty):

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
- - - - - - -

An aide came running in with the doctor.

"He's coding!" the doctor yelled. "Crash Cart: STAT! I'm taking over CPR: Get her out of here," the doctor commanded.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave," and the aide guided her out of the room and into Fletcher's parents, and then went back in.

"What happened, Becky?"

"I...dunno…they said something about crashing…." And Becky broke down in tears.

- - - - - - -

(Betty):

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, divine, O night, O night divine!

- - - - - - -

…and the orchestra continued an interlude, and all eyes were on Betty when a second person appeared:

Kim Possible, dressed just as Betty was dressed.

"Hicka-bicka-boo?" came out of Tim's mouth in a whisper.

"Hoo-SHA!" was Jim's answer.

"Boys!" Anne whisper-shouted, and they calmed down.

James was looking at his daughter, with a radiant look on her face and her hair seeming to float above the top of her robe.

Unbeknownst to the Possibles and the Loads, Ron had stepped around to the back of the sanctuary and was standing and watching Kim, a huge smile on his face. He'd been in the back room with here all along and had left it after she stepped out to wait for her vocal cue.

'I love you,' he mouthed to Kim when he caught her eye, and she smiled.

Betty stepped back, and then, Kim began to sing:

(Kim):

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
- - - - - - -

"Paddles: charge to 50!" the doctor commanded after the cart had appeared and he'd cut Fletcher's gown open, revealing his chest.

- - - - - - -

(Kim):

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
- - - - - - -

"Clear!"

- - - - - - -

(Kim):

In all our trials born to be our Friend!
- - - - - - -

Bzzzt! And the body jumps.

- - - - - - -

(Kim):

He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

- - - - - - -

"Again, charge to 50!

"Clear!

"Bzzzt! And the body jumps.

- - - - - - -

…and the orchestra played a slightly different interlude, and all eyes were on Kim as Betty stepped forward, and they shared the stage. They turned just a bit so that they could see each other, and they each smiled at the other. Betty sang the harmony while Kim took the lead.

- - - - - - -

(Kim and Betty):

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
- - - - - - -

Becky called out to the ceiling:

"Please don't take my boyfriend: I love him!" and she cried harder than she had ever in her life.

Fletcher's parents put their arms around her and cried their own tears for their son.

- - - - - - -

Charge to 100!

- - - - - - -

(Kim and Betty):

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
- - - - - - -

Clear!

Bzzzt! And the body jumps.

- - - - - - -

(Kim and Betty):

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
- - - - - - -

Charge to 200!

Clear!

- - - - - - -

(Kim and Betty):

Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

- - - - - - -

Bzzzt! And the body jumps.

- - - - - - -

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, divine, O night, O night divine!

- - - - - - -

The solid tone changed:

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee beep.

beep.

"We've got a pulse!

"It's strong!

"Good work, people! Good job!"

- - - - - - -

The congregation stood en masse and applauded and cheered Betty and Kim

'How did she know that that was Sheri Nicole's favorite solo?' Slim asked as he stood and applauded and tears streamed down his face.

His tears were not alone, and the tears weren't limited to the Possibles and the Loads.

Shannon was standing behind the pulpit, looking for a tissue box, when one of the choir members got her attention and tossed her a tissue packet.

The choir director was trying to figure out how to get Kim to join his choir on a regular basis and look for his handkerchief at the same time he was applauding his soloists.

Ron Stoppable, at the back of the sanctuary, was loving the applause, for Kim.

'You hit the high notes tonight, baby,' he thought, and then a tiny squeak drew his attention.

Rufus was wet over his entire body, and he was begging for a tissue. Ron pulled one from his pocket and handed it to him, and Rufus blew his nose with a tiny loud 'honk!', then used the dry tissue to dry his tears off the rest of his body.

'Good little naked mole rat," Ron smiled as he produced a clean unused handkerchief and dried Rufus off.

"It's time, Rufus," and Ron patted his coat pocket, and Rufus gave him a tiny thumb's up and then blew his nose again.

'Momma2,' Joss thought as she continued to applaud, and Wade produced a clean handkerchief and started to dab at her tears, then did the same to his own face.

'Thank you,' Wade mouthed to Betty and Kim, and they smiled and mouthed back:

'No Big.'

And Wade had to call on all of his composure to not laugh out loud.

Kim looked to the back for Ron and caught his eye.

'I loved it, and I love you, Kimberly Ann Possible,' Ron mouthed and blew her a kiss.

'What is it with these Possible women?' was the thought that went thru the minds of both Jamie Nolan and John Garcia Dean, "and where can I get me one?"

- - - - - - -

"Becky, what's wrong?" Jen asked as she walked up onto a visibly shaken Becky.

"Jen," she started, and Becky fell into Jennifer, sobbing.

"He almost died, Jen," and Jen's grip on Becky tightened. "The doctor said that, for a period of time, he was dead, Jen.

"The doctor said that it was a miracle that he made it, Jen," and she broke down, again, and Jen held her and shed tears for Becky's boyfriend and the boyfriend that she knew she could never have because he belonged to her best friend, and tears of joy for Fletcher's life and for her best friend's happiness.

- - - - - - -

"Elizabeth, that was wonderful," Slim said as he finally was able to pull her away from the last of the well-wishers.

"Slim, I knew that was Sheri Nicole's favorite solo: who do you think taught it to her?" and Betty laughed as Slim had an 'ah-hah' moment.

"And, this is for you," and Betty pulled Slim to her and kissed him with passion, their tongues dancing again.

Joss turned the corner and saw Slim and Betty, and backed up quietly, running into Wade.

"Why didn't you keep going, Joss?" Wade asked.

"Construction," was Joss' verbal reply. 'Family construction,' was the rest of her thought, and she smiled and kissed Wade's cheek.

Then, Slim knew.

- - - - - - -

"Kim, you did it!" Ron ran up and hugged Kim outside of the choir room.

"Aww, Ron," and he didn't let her finish as he administered 'vertical CPR' on his BFGF.

Kim didn't complain, and she returned his affections, and their tongues danced.

Then, Ron knew.

- - - - - - -

"Elizabeth, you look like an angel, you sing like an angel," and Slim took her hands in his and kissed each of them. "We just figured all of this out a few days ago, and you've since told me that you didn't want to wait.

"Well, Elizabeth, I don't want to wait, either:" and Betty gasped, as Slim dropped to one knee, "and I want you to be my angel," and he opened the box that he'd been carrying inside his pocket, and turned it to face the tear-streaked face of Elizabeth Director.

- - - - - - -

"Kim, you look like an angel, you sing like an angel, and you have been my angel since Pre-K," Ron started, taking her hands in his and kissing each of them, and Kim smiled. "After the Diablos, after this summer, and after these past few weeks, I've realized that I could lose you at any moment, and I can't have that happen without you having heard these words from me, "and Ron dropped to one knee, and Rufus scampered out of the pocket carrying the box. "I want my angel, forever," he said with such passion that Kim gasped, and Ron opened the box that he'd been carrying inside his pocket and turned it to face the tear-streaked face of Kim Possible.

- - - - - - -

"Elizabeth, make me the happiest man in Middleton, let alone Montana and the rest of the planet."

- - - - - - -

"Kim, make me the happiest man in Middleton, let alone the rest of the planet."

- - - - - - -

"Elizabeth Director,"

- - - - - - -

"Kimberly Ann Possible,"

- - - - - - -

And, from one who'd been hurting for far too long a time, and from one who'd carried his torch for just as long, the same words came out of each of their mouths and at the same time, neither knowing what the other was about to say, not a great distance away:

- - - - - - -

"Will you marry me?"

- - - - - - -

Anne Possible felt her heart jump, and it was a good jump. She smiled, leaned over, and kissed her husband as they walked to the car.

"What was that for?" James asked with a smile on his face that hadn't left since Kimberly Ann's performance.

"Just because," Anne smiled, both outside and in.

- - - - - - -

The roses at ANC glowed a light blue for an instant, and then returned to their perfect state.

The roses that Ron had placed at Stephanie Watership's grave earlier that day glowed a light blue for an instant, and then returned to their perfect state.

- - - - - - -

Author's afterward:

Presents are appearing around necks and under the tree…and, likely, on fingers, as well.

They've both asked…and the gift-giving has barely started! Our next story begins on Christmas Eve night (no, I won't leave you with an evil cliffhanger for too long!): next, in the final chapter of Paint Me a Christmas Memory - 12/24-25: New Christmas Memories ….

Thanks again for reading, and please review.