SEQUEL: Adventures in Babysitting is Posted.


Chapter 8

Closure


Ron sat silently on the jet, he stolen glances towards Kim. Rufus sat on Kim's lap as she idly pet him, the naked mole rat looking at him every so often. His mind raced back to when they were all stuck in the dome, trying to figure out the plan or convey it to Kim. It made sense for Drakken and Shego to get out, obviously Paulson had wanted to emulate Drakken, as Joss had said 'Idol Worship.' The plan had been easy, let them get out so Drakken could mess with the machine. Ron had trusted Drakken would in fact do what he did, but the plan had never been stated; Paulson had interrupted. Shego and Drakken were used to playing these cards but Kim wasn't. He had planned on it being he and Kim in there, as it normally was. Kim's anger at Shego and Drakken had been genuine and he'd finally snapped.

He'd been holding it in for so long and the dam had broke. Ron looked at Kim, now that he'd said it, the wave of regret had come full force. He knew why Kim was so stuck in time; the Lawardian incident had for the first time honestly scared her about not having a future, about not having control anymore on how tomorrow would turn out. So she'd become so focused on what she could control; what had always been. Her missions, her work, her image. Ron went back to his roller coaster again; Kim, the Future, the lack of one happening, the missions, the... well everything.

"I'm sorry," said Kim softly, Ron was taken aback as her green eyes looked at him, "I'm sorry I didn't trust in the plan, that I got lost in my head about Shego and Drakken..."

"Kim, that's not it," said Ron, he felt his chest pound, why was he pressing this, Just let it go.

"I know it's not," said Kim, her eyes serious as she tried to fight her emotions, "I love you Ron, more than anything. I know things have been pushing you away, and I just let them. If you think the missions mean more to me than you, your wrong."

"But, Kim, they do," said Ron, his hands rung his pant leg as Rufus hopped over to him, "Ever since graduation, you've been all missions and school. I thought after we both graduated college, things would change a little. It's been over a year Kim, and it's like were still in High School. It's ironic that I'm saying this, because I was worried things would change... but they haven't and that scares me now."

"Things aren't like High School Ron," said Kim, though he could see her own reflections going on behind her eyes, "Maybe, maybe I did go overboard with work but... we didn't see each other often anymore during college. I got so used to filling time with work and school..."

"That you lost time for me?" asked Ron, he could feel the wave of panic coming, but he needed to focus.

"No... Maybe," said Kim, she was searching for words, "I lost focus on living out of the moment. Because of that, I took you for granted."

"Kp, I..." Ron wasn't sure how to place what Kim was saying.

"I love you Ron," said Kim, she moved closer to him, "I want a future with you. I want to have a home, a family, and grow old together. It's always been you and me, and I never want to lose you. If you want that too, then let's get married."

"Kim," Ron smiled weakly, "Don't propose to me to try and move things forward or force yourself too. I understand your focused on Global Justice, I get it. But that life isn't going to work for me."

"Ron, I feel like your saying good bye," said Kim, her hands tightened on his.

"I am too Global Justice," said Ron, Kim's eyes opened wider, "But not to you."

"What?" asked Kim.

"Kim, I love you and I know we will work this out between us... but I think to do so, I need to step back," said Ron, he looked around the jet, "I've only held on this long because it feels like the only way I can see you. I got my degree so I could work in the engineering department at Global Justice, so I could move away from missions but still be with you. That didn't work because they want me to have experience, but I can't get the experience elsewhere. So I stayed, you know that."

"I just thought you changed your mind," asked Kim.

"No, I just didn't have an option... but I can't keep doing this Kim. I'm done," said Ron, he moved to grab Kim's hand as her eyes watered, "Not with us. Never with us... just the us that is in missions."

"Your sure?" asked Kim.

"Yeah, positive," said Ron, he shrugged, "This was my last one. It was a really good one, and it almost got me excited again... but I need to step back."

"If your sure, then you have to do what's best for you," said Kim, she pouted, "I'm going to miss use working together."

"I know," said Ron, "But you'll just have to wait to see me without pants at home."

"Ron!" Kim swatted him but laughed, their laughing fading as she looked serious again, "Are we okay?"

"We will be," said Ron, "I love you Kim, and that's never going to change. But we have too."

"I love you," said Kim, as she kissed Ron sweetly.


It was nearly afternoon when Drakken and Shego finally got home, Shego began throwing her clothes as soon as she got in bedroom. Drakken was still on the phone with his Mother as she heard him come in behind her. Apparently having found out Eddie was watching her precious Grand-Babies, she had ushered over to take them with her until they had returned. As far as she was aware, they were in Dubai on an emergency business trip. While she knew of their past now, bringing that up would not have gone over well. She heard the phone conversation end and with it felt arms encircle her bare waist as lips found her neck.

"Your kidding right, we've been up for nearly two days?" asked Shego as she spun around with a smirk.

"Exhausted," said Drakken as he rested his head against hers, he grinned, "But ecstatic."

"Well the ecstatic I'm sure can wait until we both get some sleep," she grinned, her brows furrowed, "I mean we have all evening. Your mother thinks we'll be gone till morning."

"This is true," said Drakken he grinned, "But you know what I'm thinking."

"If you say snow machine or actually help you in the lab, so help me I will use my remaining strength to toss you out a window," said Shego, her eyes narrowed.

"I was thinking we go get the girl's tonight and tell them the news," said Drakken, Shego grinned.

"The news that Mommy convinced Daddy to take off for a few weeks or..." she smirked, "That there going to be big sisters?"

"Both," said Drakken as they kissed, both toppling on the bed for a much needed nap.


Kim looked at the infirmary where Joss and Paulson were being held. Both were heavily sedated and secured for transfer upon being cleared. Looking at her, she looked no different then a few weeks ago, the images of the young girl who used to look up to her and Ron still played in Kim's head. She'd always been looking for someone to emulate, but Kim thought she'd grown out of that ages ago. She didn't know she'd just grown to resent people she used to emulate. She sighed and headed back to the other part of Global Justice.

As she walked to her desk, she saw Ron's, it was nearly empty now. He'd clearly gone to check in with Wade and say good bye to some of their colleagues. Kim had yet to get to her desk since they'd arrived, eager to check in with the Director and her cousin, she'd forgone going. Though as she sat down she felt the wave of exhaustion hit her, and thought about just power napping here instead of going home and getting a few hours sleep before work.

As she sat down she noticed something, an envelope addressed to her and Ron. It looked like it had been quickly written and she hesitated to open it up. She read it and caught herself snort. Apparently Drakken and Shego had made a detour on their way home. Kim rolled her eyes at the small note, written by Shego, and what could only be described as a very hurried doodle from Drakken.


'See you Losers in another five years.'

'Jk, '

'I'm sure we'll see you sooner. Your still losers,'

'Loving Regards, Sheila and Drew'

'No Loving Regards, Shego and Dr. Drakken'

'PS. Still salty about the whole kidnap thing, fyi.'


The doodle looked like Ron being held over green flames by a bunch of flower vines. Kim rolled her eyes and went to fold it back up when Ron flopped in his chair next to her and wheeled the rest of the way. Before he said anything she handed him the note and drawing. He snorted at the note, but his face went pale at the drawing.

"Do you think that will come back to haunt me?" asked Ron with a grimace.

"With Sheila and Drew, probably not," said Kim, Ron sighed in relief, "With Drakken and Shego... hell yes."

"Kim, really... couldn't just not do that," groaned Ron as he went to finish packing up his desk with the note, "Wonder what's with all the addresses."

"What?" asked Kim, looking up, he flipped over the paper that had illegible notes on it, "That just looks like they were trying to see if the pen's worked."

"No, it says; Make time, and there's a bunch of addresses on it," said Ron, he smirked, "I wonder if there's like a villain party or something."

"Yeah, I'm sure. If I'm going to get some sleep, we should head out." said Kim as she looked at her phone.

"Call in," said Ron, casually.

"I'm right here," said Kim with an eye roll as she checked her notification, "Geesh, I really need to block some of these things."

"Play hookie," smirked Ron, looking at his phone, "Booyah, guess who got a friend request?"

"From who?" asked Kim, deleting things off her phone, she saw one on her's, "Oh."

"Now Kim, after this lovely adventure, do you have any hesitation of me accepting a friend request from them?" asked Ron, his finger ready to click.

"Go ahead," said Kim, who hesitated before clicking the accept button for Sheila and Drew Lipsky.

"No way... Drakken's got stats on getting to the final level of my game," said Ron in excitement, "Ah man, why didn't I do this sooner, it's bad enough Hannah's farther then me."

"Uhmm hmm," said Kim as she scrolled down the facebook posts.

While Drakken and Shego had in fact changed, seeing their private facebook pages made Kim smirk. They hadn't changed as much as she'd been fighting. Shego and Drakken's pages was not as picture perfect as the public one made you think. There were images of Shego standing in Drakken's lab looked bored as he worked in the background with several comments from other villains. Drakken had a picture of Shego at a Karate tournament, having just apparently taken out another Mother and the two were running as the cops were called. She looked over at Ron who was scrolling and writing stuff down. She put her phone down and just stared at her boyfriend, knowing for the next seven hours he would be 'Un-creepily' stalking their pages, he'd probably sleep in tomorrow.

"So, this hookie thing," said Kim, Ron looked up beaming, "Do you know someone who would be interested in assisting me in this?"

"I know someone who has recently become available," smirked Ron.


Kim and Ron moved the couch to it's final resting place as they officially finished moving into their new home. It wasn't huge, a small and modest two bedroom home, with lots of space and in a very peaceful neighborhood. It had taken a few months, but finally, they had their own place. Kim sighed as she looked at the calendar, her vacation would be over in a few short hours and she would have to get sleep before work again. Ron had several interviews this week as well. They were just about to cuddle on the couch when the doorbell rang.

"Uhg," groaned Ron, "Can we not entertain anyone."

"It's probably more neighbors welcoming us," said Kim, Ron rolled his eyes, "Hey, you said you liked how quaint everyone was."

"Do they have to keep bringing us stuff, it's kind of creepy," said Ron, indicating to a counter of snacks.

"Hello," said Kim as she and Ron opened the door, both looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Welcome to, what did she call it dear?" asked Drakken looking at Shego as they held a tray of cupcakes.

"Pleasant-Villian, right Stoppable?" smirked Shego.


In Conclusion -