AN: Next Chapter! I do not own Kim Possible or Disney, etc. Reviews are appreciated! J Thanks for those that have already. It means a lot. If anyone has any suggestions for the summary, I'd be thankful for the help. Just shoot me a PM.

Now onward!

I have had Kimberly for the past 3 weeks, but there has been no sight of Ron. I've checked Bueno Nacho. He's out, nor will he be in for weeks. I've gone by the house. The door is locked. No answer when I knock. No answer to my phone calls. The only way I know he's alive is the one light on the second floor of his house. Its on almost every time I come by. Plus, someone's been checking the mail.

He's responding to all of this in an odd way. He's been showing no sign of emotion since we left the hospital.

A couple of weeks back after the funeral, most of the family and close friends came back to the house. Everyone was offering up their condolences and such, which only goes so far. There comes a point when people just want to be left alone.

Ron was cleaning off the counter, busying himself, while talking to Jim and Tim. I was surprised by how much talking to them two calmed his nerves. I would think they'd be the last two to make things even slightly better, but then…

"Hi, you've reached Kim and Ron Stoppable!" Ron rushed over to the answering machine at the sound of her voice.

"If you're wanting to talk to us, we are obviously too busy…" He started to frantically push buttons to get it to stop.

"Living our amazing life together! If you'd like to leave a mess-" He couldn't take it anymore. He jerked the machine off the table, pulling the wires out of the wall. Silence had filled the house. My heart was breaking for him. No one was saying anything. Just staring. He had no idea how to respond to what had just happened, and I could see tears in his eyes.

"Hey guys! Dinner is ready here in the dining room. Just line up and make a plate." called Tim. Again, they surprised me. Everyone began to walk towards the dining room, and the awkwardness of the moment eased a bit. While everyone was moving towards the kitchen, Ron walked out the front door. I followed him onto the porch and found him sitting with his head in his hands on the steps.

"Ron…" I called to him as I walked out.

"Monique, can I ask you a favor?" he said, not moving from his position.

"Anything, Ron."

"Can you take Kimberly?" he asked, then looked up at me. "Not permanently. Just- Just til I can figure some things out."

"Sure, of course. Is that all Ron?" I felt like there was more to this than 'figuring some things out'.

"Yea. That's it." And after everyone had left, and I took Kimberly, that was the last I had heard from him up til now.

I figured when he asked me to take Kimberly, he would still see her, but Ron has been avoiding me like the plague. Of course I have no hard evidence against that, but no returned phone calls and never being home when I come by, I feel as if my suspicions are accurate.

That is until I hear a soft knock on my door around 11:30 tonight. Damien had just walked upstairs to bed, and Blake and Kimberly have been asleep for a couple of hours. I'm downstairs alone.

"Is someone at the door, Mo?" Damien calls from the top of the stairs.

"Yes, but I'll get it." I look through the peep hole. Its Ron. "Its just Ron, Damien! Go to bed!"

"You want me to come down there?" I can hear the concern in his voice, not to mention he may say something to Ron.

"Its fine. Go to bed!" I call back and open the door.

"Hey, Monique…" He looks rough. Baggy eyes, hairs a mess, a hint of stubble, his clothes don't look too clean either. I'm not sure how to begin with him.

"Um, do you want to come in?" I ask hesitantly.

"Oh no. We can talk out here, if that's alright?" I step outside and shut the door behind me. Its chilly. I hug myself and sit down on the bench we have set up on our porch. Ron joins me.

"I'm sorry, Monique. About all I've put you through the last month." He begins, and I feel a sense of guilt because he feels at fault about all that's happened.

"Ron, there's no need to be sorry." I try to comfort him by taking his hand. "You would have done the same thing for me if I needed you."

"I-I couldn't look at her, Monique." A wave of realization hits me. I know what he means. "She looks just like her. I've seen Kim's baby pictures. They're identical."

"I know, Ron." Boy, do I know. I've spent the last month with her. This kid has Kim written all over her.

"I really am sorry. I know you probably haven't slept at all, especially with two babies in the house." His sincerity touched me. I mean for awhile there I felt like Ron had deserted her and kicked me to the curb. "And ignoring your calls and visits."

So he was ignoring me.

"What have you been doing Ron?" I didn't want to come across as condemning or judging his actions. People grieve differently. I really did want to know what he'd been up to for the past 3 weeks while he was out of work, sitting in the house.

"Nothing important." His reply let me know he just didn't want me to know or that I was prying. Normally I would press matters, but this wasn't something to be pushed.

"Oh…"

"I came to get Kimberly, though." he sighs. "If its not too late.."

"Of course its not." I can hear the exhaustion in his voice. The aging that has taken place. "Come on in, and I'll get everything together."