Disclaimer: No Possibles or Stoppables in my Easter basket, sadly, so they must still belong to Disney.

Thanks once more to Slipgate for catching unintentional innuendos and rogue letter 'E's, i.e. beta reading.

Chapter Three: The Per-Mission

Bbbrrrrrinnnggg!

Kim's hand shot out from under the covers to grab the phone from her nightstand before it could sound again. Bringing it up to her ear, she mumbled, "Hello?" prepared to give Ron an earful for waking her up this early.

"Hey, girl! Welcome home!"

Kim sat up, taken off guard by the unexpected voice on the other end of the line. "Monique, hi!" Then her brow furrowed. "Wait a minute, how did you know I was back in town already?"

"Oh, um..." Monique floundered for a response. "Wade told me."

"Ooh, of course, Wade told you," Kim said, smirking. "I should have known."

"Don't even start, girl," Monique warned, glad that her excuse had distracted Kim but less than pleased with how it had distracted her.

"Aw, come on, Monique," Kim teased. "Ron's training has him looking pretty buff..."

"Kiiim." Monique drew her name out warningly, and Kim knew she had reached the line; she would not cross it.

"Okay, okay, sorry, I'll drop it. Pixie Scout's Honor."

"Good," Monique said, her good mood quickly returning. "Because I wanna hear all about you and your trip while we're STWD today."

Kim thought about that one for only a moment before giving up. "It's a little early for Monique-speak."

Monique just laughed. "Shopping 'til we drop, natch."

"Oh... shopping? Today?"

"What's wrong?" Monique prodded.

"Well, it's just that Ron probably wants to—"

"Uh uh," Monique cut her off. "The BF got you all yesterday... I assume," she added hastily. "And he's probably got you penciled in for tonight, too—am I right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"Then he can spare you for a few hours of quality time with your BGF."

"Best Girl Friend?"

"That's right, and don't you forget it. Besides, you need to find something new and shiny for your big date tonight."

"How do you know tonight's going to be a 'big' new dress type of date?"

This time Monique didn't falter. "Hello? It's a 'welcome back after being gone all summer, look how much I missed you' date."

Kim laughed. "So, a WBABGASLHMIMY date then? I see why you find the need to use acronyms."

"Funny," Monique said. "Anyway, even Mr. Ron-mantically Challenged isn't gonna screw that up."

"Hey," Kim said defensively, "he's not that bad."

"Two words, Kim. Coupon. Book."

Kim rolled her eyes. "That was almost four years ago, Monique. He hasn't used a coupon on a date since."

"Really—never?" Monique challenged.

"Okay," she sighed. "Hardly ever. But trust me, he's gotten better in the romance department."

"Glad to hear it," Monique said. "And you can tell me all about it while we're out giving our wallets a workout at the mall. Right...?"

Kim sighed again, indecisive. She and Ron hadn't made any definite plans, but she was sure he'd assumed just as she had that they'd be spending the day together. She'd been envisioning a quiet day in, maybe snuggling on the couch watching some good old American television. But shopping and catching up with Monique did sound like fun—Club Bananas were as few and far between in Norway as Bueno Nachos were—and it would be nice to get something new to show off for Ron tonight.

"Okay," she relented. "Let me call Ron and let him know about the change of plans, and then I just need time to shower and get ready."

"Great! I'll be over in about an hour." Monique hung up before Kim had any chance to reconsider.

Kim sighed and reluctantly dialed another number.

"Morning, KP!" Ron answered, sounding unusually chipper. Kim blinked at the phone.

"Oh, hey, Ron... I hope I didn't wake you up...?"

"Nope, no worries. I was up already."

That was odd. Ron not sleeping in on a Saturday in the summer? Well, she thought with a happy little thrill, he must just be excited to come over and see me. Happiness quickly gave way to guilt as she remembered that she'd called to tell him she wouldn't be spending the day with him after all.

"Oh," she said. "Well, I was just calling because Monique just called me—I guess Wade told her I was back in town early—and I know you probably wanted to spend the day together, but she wanted me to go shopping with her, and—"

"Sounds great, KP."

"So I—wait, what?"

"I said, 'sounds great,'" Ron repeated. "I'm sure you and Monique have a lot of catching up to do. Plus, you can find something nice to wear out to dinner tonight, right? So, two birds."

"Oh... okay." Kim paused, feeling almost like she must have woken up in some alternate universe. "So... you're sure you're all right with this? You won't be... lonely or anything?"

"Of course not, KP! You go have fun with Monique, and I'll pick you up at your house tonight around six-thirty, okay?"

"Um, okay."

"Okay then. Love you, bye!" And with that, he hung up. Kim sat there on her bed for a minute, staring at the phone, trying to figure out what had just happened—and why it was bothering her so much.

Ron knocked on the Possibles' front door and waited nervously. The door swung open a moment later and Ann Possible appeared, wiping her hands on an apron. "Oh, Ron," she said, clearly surprised to see him there. "Kimmie went off shopping with Monique. I thought she told you."

"Oh, yeah, I know, Mrs. Dr. P," Ron said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Actually, um... I was hoping to talk to you and Mr. Dr. P about something."

Ann's eyebrows shot up. "Of course. Come on in," she said, ushering him through the door. "We've still got some waffles left over from breakfast."

James Possible was sitting in the breakfast nook, reading the paper and sipping his coffee, when his wife walked back into the kitchen with Ronald trailing behind her. "James," Ann said, "Ron has something he'd like to speak with us about."

James folded down the top of his paper to look at the young man as Ann pressed him down into the seat across from him. "Is that so?" he asked.

Ron swallowed nervously under the older man's gaze. "Um, yes sir. I do."

Ann set a plate full of waffles down in front of Ron and slid into the seat next to him. When he pushed the plate away a little instead of diving in, James and Ann shared a curious look. Rufus, on the other hand, was happy to oblige Ann's mothering. He hopped out of Ron's pocket, scurried across the table, and started nibbling away at the stack of waffles.

"Well, what is it, Ron?" Ann asked, offering an encouraging smile.

James laid his paper down on the table and folded his hands in front of him. "Yes, Ronald, what did you want to talk with us about?"

Ron looked back and forth between the two Possible parents. Suddenly the two adults who he usually felt almost as comfortable with as he did his own parents looked scarier than the worst villains he and Kim had ever faced. He tried to smile, but he had a feeling that it came out looking more like a grimace.

"Um, well, Mr. Dr. P, Mrs. Dr. P... you know Kim and I have been dating for a few years now, and I, um... I love Kim," he finally blurted out. "I mean, of course I love Kim, she's the greatest, but I mean I really love her, love her, you know? I just..." He took a deep breath. "I can't imagine my life without her in it, so I wanted to get your permission to... to ask her to marry me."

Ann barely contained a squeal of excitement. James, on the other hand, showed almost no reaction at all. Ron almost wondered whether the man had somehow not heard him. Or maybe he just hadn't understood. For a moment Ron wondered if he had actually even said the words that he thought he had, or if what had come out of his mouth had actually just been pure gibberish. But the look of barely contained glee on Mrs. Dr. P's face seemed to counter that theory.

The older man stood up and walked slowly toward the kitchen door, hands folded behind his back. After a few beats, he turned back around, his expression still unreadable. "Well, Ronald," he said, and Ron held his breath. "Frankly, I'm disappointed."

Ron's heart fell into his stomach.

"Disappointed that it took you so long," James said, the stony look on his face suddenly transforming into a warm grin.

Ron was so caught off guard by the sudden shift that he blinked in confusion as the older man walked over and gave his hand a hearty shake. "I, oh, well... I guess I just thought that you would want us to wait until we were done with school before we got married, so I didn't, uh..."

Ann placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ron, he's just giving you a hard time," she said, before engulfing him in a warm hug. "Now stop teasing the poor boy, James. You remember how nerve wracking it was for you to ask my parents."

"Boy, do I," James said with a laugh, clapping Ron on the back. "But unlike your dad, I don't have a case full of shotguns on prominent display in the living room, Ann."

"Right," she said, arching an eyebrow at him. "You've just got access to a bevy of rockets that you could use to launch someone into say... a black hole?"

"Now, dear, would I do that to my future son-in-law?" James asked, giving Ron another clap on the back that almost sent him sprawling.

Ron chuckled nervously, looking back and forth between them. "So you're... really okay with this?"

Ann hugged him again. "Of course we're okay with it, Ron! More than okay."

"I can't imagine a better man to marry my Kimmiecub," James said, genuine warmth in his voice—and perhaps, Ron thought, the beginnings of tears shining in his eyes. But the man cleared his throat and the moment quickly passed. "So, when are you planning on popping the question?"

"Oh," Ron said. "Tonight, actually. I've got reservations at Chez Couteaux."

"Cutting it kind of close on asking us then, aren't you, Ronald?" James asked with a wink.

Ron rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, yeah, well, to tell the truth, I think I was more nervous about asking you guys than I am about asking Kim."

"I can't imagine why," Ann said, giving her husband a pointed glare.

James held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm the father; it's my job to give him a hard time. That's how we find out if a young man is good enough for our little girl—by scaring the snot out of him and seeing if he sticks around anyway."

Ann just rolled her eyes at her husband and turned back to Ron. "So, do you have the ring?"

Ron smiled at her excitement. "Yep," he said, reaching into his pocket. "Right here." He pulled out the little black velvet box and handed it to her.

Ann opened the ring box with the same enthusiasm as if she was the one being proposed to. Her little girl was going to be getting married! She was almost tempted to try to find some way to sneak into Chez Couteaux tonight so she could be there to see Ron pop the question. Though her practical side batted that idea aside, she still knew there was no way she'd be able to go to sleep tonight until the kids got home from their date and Kim told her every detail.

The ring inside was simple but elegant—a single, small but exquisite diamond set in a braided platinum band. "Oh, Ron, it's beautiful," Ann said, wiping a tear from her eye. "Kimmie will just love it."

"You think so?"

"It's perfect," Ann assured him. "Just Kim's style. You've got good instincts—for a man," she added with a wink.

"Hey now," James said. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, dear," Ann said, kissing him on the cheek. "You have good taste in jewelry, too. I was talking about other men, of course."

James nodded, satisfied, (and missed the second little wink that Ann shared with Ron).

Ann took one last long look at the ring before she shut the box and handed it back to Ron, sighing happily. "Oh, this brings back memories," she said, reaching over to squeeze her husband's hand.

"It certainly does," he agreed, squeezing back.

Ron watched them with interest. "How did you propose to Mrs. Dr. P, sir?"

"Oh, Kimmiecub's never told you that story? She used to love having us tell her about it when she was a little girl."

"I don't think so," Ron said, shaking his head.

"Well," James said, sitting up a little straighter as Ann leaned against him, "we had been going together for about a year, and I asked Ann to take a little evening stroll through Middleton Park. I had rigged up my own fireworks, and at my signal, my buddies Chen and Ramesh set them off, and they spelled out 'Will You Marry Me, Ann?' across the sky."

"Wow..." Ron said, "your own fireworks display? That's... really romantic." As his expression slowly changed from awed to worried, Ann thought she could almost read his thoughts. How is a boring dinner at Chez Couteaux ever going to live up to that?

"Um, I'd better go," he said, pushing up from the table, "and get ready, you know, for tonight." He walked quickly toward the kitchen door, but then spun around, slapping his forehead. "Oh gosh, um, I forgot to say thanks! Thanks for, you know, saying yes."

He turned and continued on to the front door, adding a mumbled, "I just hope Kim does."

Ron pushed the door open and stumbled out into the sunlight, which suddenly seemed just a little too bright. But as he squinted toward his parents' house down the block, a slender hand landed on his arm and he spun back around, startled, to find that Ann Possible had followed him out.

"Mrs. Dr. P! I—"

"Ron," she said, sliding her hand down to his and offering a comforting squeeze, "there's a part of that story that James left out, but you should know—it was always Kimmie's favorite part."

Ron stared back at her, curious, and she continued. "James' fireworks were pretty impressive," she said, "but they weren't perfect. They actually came out looking less like 'Will You Marry Me, Ann?' and more like, 'Will You Hurry, My Man?'" She chuckled. "There were articles in the local papers for weeks speculating on what it meant; was it some sort of political message, or maybe an ad for a new movie? I was the only one who knew exactly what it really meant—because the man I loved was there kneeling down in front of me with a ring and a hopeful look on his face."

She squeezed his hand again. "I know nothing I can say will stop you from feeling nervous about tonight, Ron—it's only natural—but I'll say it anyway. Whatever you do or say, Kimmie's going to love your proposal for the same reason that she's going to love that ring: because it comes from you."

Ron suddenly found it very difficult to meet her gaze. But when he tried to look down, Ann put one hand under his chin and gently tilted his face back up to meet her warm smile. "She loves you, Ronald."

"I know that, Mrs. Dr. P. I wouldn't be asking her to marry me if I didn't know that. It's just..." He paused and sighed. "That's why she deserves the perfect proposal." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know I haven't always been Mr. Romance, and Kim's always loved me in spite of that, but... just this once, I'd like to get it right—for her."

Ann just shook her head fondly and pulled him into a hug. "Then you will."

Kim spun right and left in front of the dressing room mirrors. The dress she was trying on was a long sleeveless number in a shimmery black fabric. She didn't wear black often, unless one counted her old mission wear, but the dress did look good on her. And she found herself wondering whether it would remind Ron of a certain other black dress she had worn once years ago... but somehow thinking of Ron darkened her mood instead of brightening it.

Almost as if reading her thoughts, Monique spoke up. "I'm telling you, Kim, when Ron sees you in this, you'll be picking that boy's jaw up off the floor."

"You think so?" Kim asked, without any of her usual confidence.

Monique frowned. "I know so," she said. "And I also know when something's bugging my BF. What's up, girl? I thought you said you and Ron had a good time last night."

"We did," Kim insisted. "We had a great time." She paused and sighed before quietly adding, "Mostly."

Monique put her hands on Kim's shoulders and pushed her down into one of the dressing room chairs, then sat down across from her. "Okay, girl, spill. What's the problem?"

Kim started to say it was nothing, but a warning look from Monique headed that lie off at the pass. Her shoulders slumped. "It's just something Ron said last night... about how he was able to handle all the missions this summer all on his own."

Monique stared back at her, confused. "So your boy stepped up. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing! I mean, I'm proud of him, but... it just made me realize something that I never really stopped to think about before... With his monkey powers, Ron doesn't really need me for the world saving thing anymore."

Monique shook her head. "Kim, even if that were true—and I'm not saying it is—monkey boy wouldn't even be involved in the world saving thing if it wasn't for you. You're the reason he got those powers in the first place—not to mention the reason he finally learned how to use them."

"I know," Kim said, but she didn't sound at all reassured.

"Look, Kim, I know you're used to being top dog at everything—and I'm pretty sure you know Ron wouldn't take that away from you. But you always wanted your Potential Boy to step up, and now that he has, you're... jealin'?"

"It's not that, Monique... I mean, maybe it is a little, but that's not really it..." Kim's voice trailed off and she folded her arms around herself. "It's just... what if it's not just missions? What if he doesn't need me at all?"

"Okay, now I know you're trippin'. Girl, that boy is head over heels for you, and if you can't see that, you might need to talk to your mom, 'cause you need to get your head examined! He's been acting all lonely-hearted all summer without you."

Kim sighed again and threw up her hands. "That's what everyone keeps saying. But it sure didn't seem like it when I called him this morning and told him I was going to go shopping with you instead of spending the day with him. In fact, he seemed like he couldn't wait to not spend time with me!"

Monique allowed herself a little mental sigh of relief since, of course, she knew the real reason for Ron's behavior—and was sure it would be forgiven and forgotten after tonight. But that still left her with the conundrum of how to assuage Kim's worries in the here and now.

She smiled at her friend. "So what you're saying is, you're upset with him for not jealin' like crazy the way he did back when you and I first met?"

"No!" Kim said, crossing her arms and sulking. Monique just raised an eyebrow at her and waited. "Okay, fine," she huffed. "A little jealing would have been nice."

Monique couldn't help but laugh. She ignored Kim's glare as she stood up, grabbing her friend's hands and pulling her to her feet as well. "Kim, did it ever occur to you that boyfriend was trying to show you how mature he can be—just like he was trying to impress you by telling you he could handle the missions by himself?"

Kim shuffled her feet. "Well..."

Monique gave her a playful nudge. "Come on, girl, let's pay for this dress, find you some killer heels to complete the ensemble, and go get our hair and nails done. Then you can return the favor by showing off for him tonight," she said with a wink.

That actually got a small giggle out of Kim. "Thanks Monique," she said, hugging her friend, "I guess I just needed someone to knock some sense into me."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for. Now hurry up and change out of that dress or we won't have time to put my master plan into action."

"Your 'master plan,' huh?" Kim raised an eyebrow. "What, are you a super-villain now?"

"Curse you, Kim Possible!" Monique replied in a deep voice. "You've uncovered my dark secret. From this day on, I shall be known as... the Stylinator!"

Kim snorted. "The Stylinator? That might be the worst super-villain name I've ever heard—and believe me, I've heard a lot of baaad super-villain names."

"Oh, come on," Monique said, "it is not worse than The Mathter! Anyway, I'd like to see you do better on the spur of the moment, Miss Perfect."

"Hmm," Kim said, pursing her lips in thought. "How about... The Vogue Rogue, The Hem Fatale, The Fashion Fiend—"

"Okay, okay already!" Monique said, rolling her eyes and pushing her friend toward the dressing room door. "You've now proven that in addition to cheerleading and freak fighting, you're also a natural at coming up with villain names. Now get changed and let's get out of here. So sayeth the Vogue Rogue!"

To be continued...

Author's Note: Unlike Kim, I'm not a natural at coming up with villain names, so thanks to Pharaoh Rutin Tutin and DoofusPrime for suggesting 'The Hem Fatale' and 'The Vogue Rogue' respectively, and thanks to everyone else who brainstormed on the Kim Possible Discussion forum.