This chapter was written by Reader101w. I only edited it and that was like two mistakes. Reader gets all the credit for this one. But i hope you enjoy this one. Don't worry after the vacation part of it is coming up soon.

Chapter 6: Preparations

Just as the fireworks display was coming to an end, the Kimmunicator chimed.

"That will be my dad," Kim said with a half-smile as she answered the device.

But it turned out to be her mom. "Hi Kimmie, did you enjoy the fireworks with Ron?"

Kim smiled. "Yeah…" But then she realized what her mother was implying. "The actual fireworks! We enjoyed the actual fireworks!"

Mrs. Dr. Possible gave a knowing smile. "That's good to hear sweetie. Anyway, are you and Ron coming back here? We still have a lot of food left."

"Sure, we'll be there in twenty." Kim turned to the others. "Mon, Felix, do you also want to tag along?"

The couple nodded and Kim turned back to her mother. "Monique and Felix will also come, is that okay?"

"Of course," Kim's mother said. "We've got enough food for them as well."

"Thanks mom. Oh, and sorry for missing out watching the fireworks with you guys."

Kim's mother smiled. "It's more important to us that you enjoyed the fireworks. And I bet you enjoyed it more with Ron by your side."

Kim smiled and blushed a bit. "Thanks… uh… we'll be on our way now, see you in a bit."

"That went better than I feared," Kim said as she and Ron drove back home after the picnic. "No chores, and mom and dad didn't seem too upset that I missed out on the tradition fireworks watching."

"Your dad did seem a bit off though," Ron commented. "Like he was lacking some of the enthusiasm he normally has when working the grill."

"Yeah, I noticed that as well, I'll ask mom about it, maybe she knows what's going on."

"So, what are you up to tomorrow?" Ron asked, changing the subject. "We both have the day off, right?"

Kim smiled. "I was thinking of making some preparations for the upcoming vacation. It's only a little time before we leave, and we haven't really prepared that much yet."

"Sounds good," Ron agreed. "I think my dad has a couple of maps we can use to plan out some routes if needed."

"Overdoing it much?" Kim asked with a smirk when Ron arrived the next day with a large stack of maps and a couple of Lonely Planets.

"Dad insisted I brought them all, just in case," Ron replied as he dumped the stack on the table in the living room.

"Oh well, better too much than too few," Kim remarked and opened her laptop. "Well, time to get cracking. Where do we want to go? What do we want to do?"

"Oh, I also brought this," Ron said and folded out a large map that was filled with marked dots. "Our mission map."

Kim smiled; after their first couple of 'real' missions, Ron had suggested keeping track of all the locations they had visited during their missions. And it still never failed to impress the redhead to see how many places over the world they had already visited.

"Do we want to visit place we've already been to?" Ron asked.

"And risk run-ins with villains that may still hold a grudge?" Kim replied. "Maybe it would be best to ask Wade if there's still villain activity going then?"

"Good point," Ron admitted. "Besides, it won't have the same vacation feel to it after fighting who-knows-who."

Kim browsed through the map. "Are you still up for the sailing idea?"

Ron nodded. "Sure, as long as it won't be the only thing we do."

"How about this?" Kim pointed to a group of islands that lacked marker highlights. "We can sail from island to island, sail for a day, stay on the island for a couple of days, and then move on."

"That's sounds good," Ron agreed, and then he started looking through the other maps. "So, what are those islands called?"

Kim rolled her eyes. "Ron, I know we haven't been there on a mission, but this is basic geography. Those are the Galapagos Islands."

"Oh… yeah, I knew that," Ron said, embarrassed, and quickly grabbed the South America map book.

Kim looked over his shoulder as he opened the book on the Galapagos Islands. "That does look pretty good, we can start on Santa Cruz and then move from island to island from there."

"If we're going to get there by airplane, it may be better to go to Isabela first," Ron said. "That one has an airport closer by the city."

Kim nodded. "And we have to figure out the sailing bit. Just the two of us, or as part of a group. It also depends on what is offered there."

The teens spent most of the rest of the day figuring out which routes to take, where to stay for the night, what activities were available and, of course, what they could afford.

"Hey mom," Kim asked after Ron left. "Dad seemed a bit off yesterday, and today as well, is something wrong?"

Mrs. Dr. Possible smiled. "Don't worry Kimmie, it doesn't have to do with you missing out on watching the fireworks with us… well, maybe a little."

Kim frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Your father is still getting used to the idea that you are growing up and becoming an adult," Kim's mother explained. "And it is sometimes difficult for him. He used to be the only man in your life, and now he has to share more and more of his time with Ron. Combined with the fact that this will be the first vacation you will be spending on your own, it's understandable that he needs some time to cope."

"I-I didn't realize…" Kim stammered. "Do you think this was a bad idea?"

"Kimmie," the elder redhead said as she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "This is part of growing up and leaving the nest. We trust you, and Ron as well. And it may take some time for us to adapt to the new situation, but we are really happy for you and proud of you."

Kim smiled. "Thanks mom. Do you think I should talk about this with dad?"

Kim's mother thought for a moment, but then shook her head. "I don't think he's ready to admit it just yet. He might as well close up and say there is no problem. Here's what you can do though; involve him in your vacation planning. That allows him to show you he isn't against the idea, and you don't have to feel guilty of keeping him out."

"That's a great idea," Kim agreed happily. "Thanks mom."

Ron, however, was a bit more skeptical about the idea. "Don't get me wrong KP, it's not that I want to keep your father out of the planning stuff, but don't you think it is a bit unfair to my parents to include your dad but not them?"

Kim frowned. "I didn't know they wanted to be involved in the planning."

"It's not like your dad asked to be involved," Ron retorted, slightly irritated. "We could at least ask my parents as well."

"Fine," Kim gave in. "I just don't want everyone to get a say in our vacation."

"But asking your dad isn't a problem?" Ron asked.

"I didn't ask him yet," Kim said, tersely. "That's why I'm running it by you first. It was mom's suggestion, and I liked the idea because dad is having trouble letting go and I want to ease him into it. But if you don't want him involved, then I won't ask him."

"I didn't say I didn't want your dad involved," Ron replied. "I'm saying we should ask my parents as well."

Kim threw up her hands. "Should we ask the tweebs as well? Maybe they have some ideas too?"

Ron was about to make a snide retort, but he caught himself. "What's wrong KP?"

The redhead sat back down. "I feel guilty for dad, okay? I feel like I abandoned him when I went to watch the fireworks with you."

"But your parents were okay with it, right?" Ron asked.

"Yeah…" Kim sighed. "Maybe it would have been better if we had received chores or some kind of punishment. But now it's… they just accepted it, and now I feel bad for breaking a tradition like that. And I just want to make up for it."

"Wouldn't you have felt bad if I had just said yes to your plan?" Ron asked.

"No… yes… I don't know." Kim slumped down. "Now I would." She looked up at her boyfriend. "Sorry Ron, I shouldn't have put you on the spot."

Ron sat down next to her. "Don't worry KP, it's ok."

Kim smiled weakly. "So what are we going to do now? Invite everyone?"

"Maybe that's not a bad idea," Ron said, and then chuckled at his girlfriend's sour expression. "Why don't we finish up our planning, and then show it to our parents and ask them for any feedback. That way, we still get to make all the choices we want, and our parent feel involved. And you know, maybe they do have some good tips for us."

Kim chuckled as well. "You have some great ideas Ron, thanks."

Ron smiled. "It's what I do."

Over the next couple of days, Kim and Ron continues working at their respective jobs during the day, and spent part of their evening planning out their vacation.

Of course, not all of the evening was spent planning.

Mrs. Dr. Possible smiled as Kim and Ron walked into the kitchen to grab some snacks and something to drink. Both looked a bit flustered.

"Had a good session?" she asked innocently.

Kim blushed crimson and stammered for words. Ron did only marginally better. "Yes Mrs. Dr. P," he blurted out. "Planning our vacation went well, which was all we did… planning our vacation."

"Of course you did," Kim's mother agreed. "Do you want something to drink? You two look quite heated."

"Mo-om," Kim complained.

"Alright, I'll stop," Mrs. Dr. Possible said with a grin. "Here, I made you some snacks, don't let them go cold."

"Thanks Mrs. Dr. P," Ron said and took one of the snacks. "Wow, these are really good."

"Made from scratch," Kim's mother said proudly. "So, how is your planning going? Almost got it figured out?"

"More or less," Kim said. "We're down to looking at the best flight schedules to get to and from the Galapagos Islands. Retour flights are cheaper, but also less convenient for our vacation schedule most of the time."

"And a lot of flights are already booked full," Ron added.

"No favors you can cash in?" Mrs. Dr. Possible inquired.

Kim shrugged. "Probably, if we ask Wade. But I don't really want to use mission favors for personal stuff. It feels like selling out."

"Like Team Impossible did," Ron explained. "And they turned into heroes for hire in the end."

"More for hire than heroes," Kim muttered, remembering the dubious trio all too well. "Anyway, with our vacation jobs we should have plenty to pay our vacation, if we don't overdo it too much."
"You wanted to show us the plans, right?" Mrs. Dr. Possible asked. "Did you already have a moment in mind for that?"

"We were thinking next Saturday evening," Ron said. "My parents have time then as well. And they can bring Hana as well, so they don't need to find a babysitter."

Kim grinned. "It would have been funny though, if they asked us to babysit while they went here to hear us talk about our vacation plans."

"You can still watch Hana when they're here," Kim's mother said with a grin.

Kim's smile fell. "Mom, that's not what I meant."

"Don't worry KP," Ron reassured her. "Hana will probably be ready to go to sleep by then, she can have a nap in the guest room, right?"

"Sure," Mrs. Dr. Possible said. "Don't worry about it. I'm looking forward to see what you have planned for your vacation."

"So, everything ready for your vacation?" Felix asked the next day when he and Ron were working at GameShop.

"Yeah, al the preparation work is pretty much done," Ron said. "Now it's just a matter of gathering the rest of the money."
Felix grinned. Well then, let's get to it. We've got costumers."

Ron and Felix worked in relative silence for a while as they dealt with the costumers. When the shop quieted down again, Ron turned to Felix. "Do you have any vacation plans? Maybe go somewhere with Monique?"

Ron's friend shrugged. "Not really, we're going to an amusement park the weekend after next, but otherwise Monique is booked solid with her job at Club Banana. And my mom and I are going to a robotics convention in a couple of weeks. And much as she likes the flying chair, Monique really isn't interested in the technical details," he added with a grin.

"Too bad," Ron said.

Don't worry about it," Felix reassured his friend. "Monique and I are not like you and Kim. We value our personal time for ourselves just as much as together time, sometimes even more. Besides, spending the evenings together is more than enough to keep the relation up to speed."

"On the roof of the GameShop?" Ron inquired with a grin.

Felix turned red and coughed, slightly embarrassed. "Ahem… looks like we got more costumers."

"Hey Mo," Kim greeted her friend as she walked into Club Banana. "How is business going?"

"Can't complain," Monique said. "Not too busy today, but I got some good sales today."

"Mind if I add some to that?" Kim asked with a grin. "After working out the vacation budget it turned out I would keep some money leftover."

"And a girl has got to wear some nice clothes on vacation, am I right?" Monique concluded knowingly. "Here, let me show you our latest summer line."

"Are you and Felix doing anything?" Kim asked as she browsed through the clothing.

"Next week we're going a long weekend to an amusement park, two days filled with rides, shows and sugary snacks," Monique replied with a squeal. "It's going to be great."

Kim grinned. "Two full days, huh? I hope you don't get sick of each other by the end of it."

Monique chuckled. "Yeah, we're not joined at the hip like you and Ron, but we can make it two days. Besides, Felix is going to some robotics convention with his mom the week after, so we'll have a 'cool down' period."

Kim chuckled and shook her head. "You guys have a weird relationship."
"Look who's talking," Monique retorted playfully. "There's nothing conventional about your relationship with Ron."

"It is," Kim objected. "We go on dates, we're going on vacation together."

"Uh-huh," Monique nodded sarcastically. "Once you've spent more time dating than on a mission together, or more time traveling on vacation than for a mission, then you come back to me."
Kim huffed. "That's unfair, Ron and I have been going on missions for years now."

Monique grinned. "But the thought of dating never came up before. Face it, you two are as unconventional as can be."

"Fine," the redhead sighed with a slight grin. "We're not a conventional couple. Happy?"

"Content," Monique replied smugly. "Now, let's pick out something for you that Ron will really like."

End of chapter 6