Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the Kim Possible series are owned by Disney. All registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

Justine Asks Felix

Felix parked his van in front of Tim and Erin Possible's home. "Next car, I drive like a normal person and won't need a vehicle with hand controls."

"You're repeating yourself," Justine told him.

"No, reminding myself. I've sworn a great oath... Of course it may be another year until the legs are ready."

"While you pick out the model and color I'll get Francis."

"How was dance class?" Erin asked when she opened the door.

"We're both improving each week. I hope Francis was no problem."

"Francis is never a problem. He and Cat play cards or some board game. Honestly, we love having him. I think he sees Cat as his little sister." Erin turned and called, "Francis, your mother is here." Had it been Kim retrieving Jane, or Joss reclaiming Junior it would have been 'your mom', but there was something about Justine which made 'mother' seem appropriate.

Francis ran out and jumped into the back seat.

"Buckled up, Champ?" Felix demanded before putting the van in gear.

"You bet, Dad."

While Felix read a bedtime story to Francis, Justine prepared two Tom Collins – heavy on the lemon juice and simple syrup, light on the gin – and poured pretzel chips into a bowl, then took everything to the living room and turned on the news.

"Long day," Felix groaned as he sank onto the couch beside his wife. He took a sip from an icy glass, "but dance lessons with you are great. At least I don't feel like I'm using you for a cane any more while we're there."

"I never mind your arms around me."

"Well I mind not getting strong as fast as..." He stopped and laughed at himself. "What an idiot! A couple years ago I figured I'd be in a wheelchair for life. Now I'm griping that I can't run or dance as well as I'd like. I need to work on gratitude, appreciating the good things I have." He held up the glass, "Like this drink, and the wonderful woman who made it." He leaned over and gave his wife a kiss.

"Thanks."

"No need to... Another anxiety attack?"

"Yes."

"Come on, Justine. You are super-capable."

"I'm capable in the lab. Outside the lab I'm socially backward."

"No you're not. We aren't be the most sophisticated couple in the world, but we're not backward."

"I said I, not we."

"We are a couple, and don't you forget it."

"I'm ugly."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't know who you see in the mirror, but I see a beautiful woman when I look at you."

"Liar," she smiled.

"God's own truth," he told her seriously.

"I'm a terrible mother."

"No you're not."

"You're not going to say I'm a good mother."

Felix hesitated. "Given the way you were raised, more of a lab experiment than a child, you do very well."

"But you're too honest to say I'm a good mother."

"I try to be honest in everything I say to you. You're not a bad mother. You try. I'm so grateful we even have a son – I know you did that for me. I love you so much it hurts me to see you down on yourself."

"Why do you love me? Because we have a son?"

"If you recall I fell in love with you years before we had Francis."

"Why? You're warm and caring, with a great sense of humor. Everyone who knows you is your friend. How could you fall in love with me?"

"You know why."

"Tell me again. It's one of those nights when I need to hear it."

"It's because you're not Kim Possible. And most of the world is Kim Possible. All she saw when she met me was the wheelchair. She reacted more to it than to me as a person. You are Ron Stoppable, you–"

"I always have trouble accepting that as a compliment."

"Well you know it is. He didn't let the wheelchair define me. We shot hoops, played video games, or just hung out. You didn't see my wheelchair–"

"Of course I saw the wheelchair."

"If you were any more literal you could be a Baptist."

"Low blow, Mr. Renton."

"You know what I mean, Mrs. Renton." He gently tapped her forehead, "For you, what matters is the mind. You didn't see anything wrong with me, 'cause you were judging me on my brain." He kissed her again, "And what is my next line?"

"That after you got to know me, under my cool analytical exterior..."

"There was a warm, caring woman. The end. With the footnote that she needs to have more faith in herself outside the lab. She is a good friend, a wonderful wife, and does a surprisingly good job with the mother bit considering her lack of a good role model. Which is why tomorrow, after work, you're finding something old in the closet and coming out to shoot hoops in the driveway with Francis and me."

"I can't shoot a basketball."

"Yes you can!"

"No, I–"

"You can't do it well, but you can do it. I think part of the problem is you have to be perfect at something, or you feel like a failure. It's okay to be less than perfect. It's okay to do something just for fun. So you'll just be out having fun with your husband and son, and we'll go out for pizza afterward."

"Double pepperoni?"

"For you, my love, anything. Even if it gives me heartburn."