Chapter 9 is up and running!

Sorry about breaking up the interview, but my explanation for that can be found at the end of last chapter. However, I've worked on this one tirelessly to have it ready quickly to make up for it.

Again, this pace will not continue once I find another job, which will hopefully happen soon. But on to the story:

The interview continues, and Team Possible fields some questions about their relationship. Then its time for audience participation, and it forces Kim and Ron to look hard at what they mean to each other.

A mysterious man shows up afterwards. What could he want?

Shego confronts Drakken about what she suspects. How will he react?

Finally, Kim and Ron get the shock of their lives when past exploits lead to something unexpected.

So the drama!

And now for the necessary stuff:

Kim Possible and all related characters are (c) Disney, Bob Schooley, and Mark McCorkle.

Original Characters are my creations, and I would appreciate if you ask before you use them. Thank you.


Heather smiled again. "So how long do you four think you'll be doing this?"

All three humans looked at each other, smiled, and nodded to Rufus.

"Hrk. Long time."

Heather nodded, and then turned towards the camera. "Okay, well I think it's time we take a break here. Stay tuned, because when we come back we'll have more with the heroes of the hour, Team Possible. Including some all important questions about Kim and Ron, as well as some questions for Ron about the recent attack. Keep it here on Channel 6, Middleton News."


Somewhere approximately two thousand miles away, in a run-down hotel in a small town on the east coast, a bottle flew through the air and smashed a TV showing the interview. No one came running, however, because the occupant of that room had generally kept to themselves the entire time they'd been there. In fact, other than the normal everyday routine, the person had done nothing but train, and train hard, for the day coming in less than a week, when they would put their plans into action. Plans that required them to be better, faster, and stronger than they were four years ago. The two teens had better watch out, because this person was going to push them to their limits. Because there was only one thought on this person's mind as they counted down the days to the inevitable confrontation.

Revenge on the two who humiliated me: Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. No more games, no more stunts, just some FR-EAKY revenge.


As soon as the red lights signaling the cameras were running switched off, Heather Tyler turned and grinned at them.

"You two guys are doing really well so far. With Kim I expected this, but I think this is the first time I've ever talked to you two. Have either of you ever been on TV before?"

Wade smiled. "Well, when I was younger they did a lot of stories on me, but I didn't really understand what was going on then. This is the first interview I've ever done where I knew what was happening."

Ron, however, looked kind of sheepish. "Umm, I was the one freaking out when you did that story on the growing popularity of the Lil' Diablo toys at Bueno Nacho."

Heather snapped her fingers in recognition. "I knew I'd seen you somewhere else besides just with Kim. We get hundreds of calls to the station about the 'boy who freaked out at Bueno Nacho.' It's good to see you've been doing better."

Ron grinned and reached for Kim's hand. "Well, when I've got a woman who's this bon-diggity, how can I not be doing better?"

Kim smiled. "Ronnie, that's sweet."

Heather nodded. "To tell the truth, my editors wanted to do a story on you two back when you first got together, but I wouldn't take it. Sometimes they forget you two are still just kids."

Ron laughed a bit. "Actually, I've been a legal adult since September 1st, cause that's when I turned 18."

Heather blinked a few times. "Really now? And Kim, what about you? When do you hit official adulthood?"

Kim smiled. "May 31st. Less than a week to go and I'm not sure I can wait."

Heather nodded. "I'll bet. Say, do you mind if I re-ask this when the cameras come back on."

Kim shook her head. "No big. Just don't bring up that whole 'zodiac compatibility' thing. Our relationship works, and we don't pay attention to that sort of stuff anymore."

The reporter smiled. "Deal. All I'll mention is what sign you are. Speaking of which, if you need to find the restroom sign, might be a good idea to do it soon. We only have a few more minutes before those cameras come back on."

Kim immediately got up and headed for the restroom. Her slight frame didn't lend itself well to holding it in. She glanced back, and noticed that Ron was following her, probably doing the same thing. After watching him down multiple servings of Grande-size Slurpster at Bueno Nacho during lunch, she wasn't in the least bit surprised.

A few minutes later, they returned to their seats. Wade had his laptop open, and seemed to be chatting with someone about something serious. As she got closer, Kim noticed he was video chatting with Dr. Director. However, the chat window closed soon after she saw it.

"What's the sitch, Wade?"

The young man looked up at her. "Hey, Kim. Dr. Director was just asking me some technical questions about their systems. She also called to let me know that Global Justice had a minor problem with D. N. Amy they were dealing with. She'll let me know if they need you and Ron, but she thinks they have it under control at the moment."

"Spankin'," she replied.

If G.J. was starting to be able to deal with threats again, Kim wouldn't have to worry as much about getting calls at all hours. So far, it hadn't happened, since the criminal underworld was evidently still recovering from the invasion just like the rest of the planet. However, it had been there in the back of her mind so much that Kim had not had a really decent night's sleep since their meeting with the head of the spy network. However, part of that had to do with worrying about what would happen if Betty Director were no longer the leader of the organization. Her comment about where Ron would have been if the other guy were in charge had hit a little too close home for Kim, especially considering what they'd learned from Xander and June. If she did something as "evil Kim," would that be the end of the woman's career, or would it passed off like the Zorpox incident had been? Kim made a mental note to ask her future daughter the next time she saw her if the girl would mind if Kim personally incinerated the plans for the infernal device that was causing them so much trouble.

Shortly thereafter, the red lights on the cameras again came on, signaling they were once again live. Heather smiled into them.

"Welcome back to Channel 6 Middleton News. If you're just joining us, we're doing something special tonight. Here in the studio we have the four members of Team Possible. They are teen hero Kim Possible, her partner Ron Stoppable, Rufus the naked mole rat, and tech genius Wade Load, all of whom hail from right here in Middleton, Colorado. Before the break, we learned just how these four special individuals came together to form a team. We also learned that, according to them, their team isn't just them, but everyone who has ever helped them out."

There was a smattering of applause and cheering.

Heather turned towards the team. "Now, before we went to commercial, you guys stated that you'll be doing this for a long time. Any idea just how long that will be?"

All eyes turned to Kim. "Well, Heather, we'd love to do this until the end of time, but we all know that's probably not realistic. But as long as we still feel able to do it and are up to the task, we'll keep at it. However, we can't say that it won't change when we get older. We all agreed long ago that if we felt the missions were starting to interfere with us having normal lives, we'd back off. And if it was still a problem, that would be the end of it. I mean, we all realize that there will most likely come a day when I'm simply unable to jet around the world, and that if that comes, we'll decide what to do then. I do want it to go on record, though, that if that were the case right now, I'd have no problem trusting the fate of the world to these three."

Heather smiled. "That brings us to our next area of questions, something all your fans are probably dying to know. Kim and Ron, you two, if the rumor mills are true, have been together for over a year now, but everyone is curious how that started, and why you chose each other. Would you care to give us a peek into why you two work as a couple?"

Kim smiled and squeezed Ron's hand, and he spoke up. "To be honest, Heather, we work because we mesh well together. In the areas where I have flaws, Kim has strength, and vice versa. If you go by any of the rules about relationships, we shouldn't work. Everything, be it Astrology, Animology, or any of that other stuff says we shouldn't be able to make it work, but we do because of who we are. That and I have the most amazing young woman on the planet as my girlfriend," he added with a smile.

Heather nodded. "Speaking of Astrology and related topics, it seems that while most know many facts about the two of you, one thing that strangely most don't know is your birthdays or ages. Care to let us in on it? And I'm asking all four of you."

Wade smiled. "Well, I turned 13 on January 26th, so now when people call us the three teens, they're actually right."

Kim nodded. "I actually hit 18 in about a week, on May 31st. And to be honest, I can't wait. It's kind of frustrating that we were considered old enough to jet around the world and save it when we were 14, but couldn't get a hotel room for overnight missions by ourselves. I can't count the number of times we had to go ahead and grab a midnight ride home just because we weren't legally allowed to rent a place to sleep for the night."

Heather laughed a bit. "I'll bet. And by the way, Happy Early Birthday."

"Thanks Heather."

The reporter turned to Ron. "What about you and Rufus?"

Ron shrugged. "To be honest, we don't really know how old Rufus is, only that I've had him for almost four years. As for me, I turned into a full adult on September 1st. I'm officially the oldest of the group at 18."

Heather smiled. "Well it seems to me you've handled it well so far. However, something I have to ask of you, Wade. Why is it that you've picked two people who are five years older than you as two of your closest friends?"

Wade grinned. "To be honest, our friendship just kind of grew from what we do together. I'm sure Kim and Ron will tell you, when they first met me I was probably the most introverted, closed-off person in the world. They've really gotten me to open up. Just like with their relationship with each other, none of us could tell you why the friendship works, it just does. Sometimes I think that's part of what makes this whole team work, the fact that we're friends and more in spite of what the rules or others say about it."

"Interesting answer," remarked Heather. "Okay, now we've come to the big question of the hour, and probably the reason we're all sitting here. For many years now, Kim has been the star and the one to save the world. But according to what we've recently learned, Ron was the one who saved the world when the aliens had us all of us, including Kim, down for the count. Can you tell us what happened?"

"Simple," replied Kim. "My boyfriend stepped up and showed everyone else what I already knew about him: he's a true hero. In all the sitches and missions we've faced over the years, when things looked their darkest is when he shined the brightest."

Ron smiled. "All I know is that I saw what was happening, that the world was in trouble and so was Kim, and I trusted in my own abilities to save it and her. I can't really tell you how I did it, just that it happened. I'm just glad I was able to step up when it counted."

Heather nodded. "So are we, Ron, so are we. I think I speak for everyone when I say that all of us, the entire planet, owe you both a debt as big as the one we've owed Kim for years and an apology to match it."

Ron grinned. "No apology necessary. As my girl is so fond of saying, it's 'No big.' I'm just happy I was up to the task."

Heather turned towards the camera. "Okay, now we have a few questions coming out of the audience, as well as a few that have been submitted to us from all over the world. And of course, all four of you have the option of declining to answer anything you feel uncomfortable with. Also, I would remind the audience that any questions that are considered inappropriate will be cause for our security to eject you from the studio premises."

All four members of Team Possible looked at each other with relief. Though they had prepared the night before for the possibility of those kinds of questions coming up, they had all been secretly hoping that they wouldn't need to answer them.

"Now, for our first question, how about we get someone from our studio audience. Umm, yes, the little girl in the front row."

Kim saw with a smile that it was the same girl she had high fived before the interview started.

"Umm, do you ever gets scared on missions?"

Ron and Wade looked at Kim, who nodded. "Well, I guess the answer would be yes, we do. But we also use that fear to stay focused so that whatever we're afraid of doesn't hurt us. Or if it manages to, it doesn't hurt us as much as it could."

Heather scanned the crowd again. "Yes, you in the back with the dark hair and black-rimmed glasses."

A nerdy-looking boy stood up. "Yes, my question is for the Tunnel Lord, a.k.a. Rufus. What would you say you're favorite food would be."

They all turned to Rufus. "Hrk. Nacos. Churros. Cheese!"

The whole audience laughed, as did most of the camera people and Heather.

"Okay, I think our next question should come from our home audience. We have here a letter from all the way over in Moscow, Russia. And I should mention that we've had expert translators working on every international letter we received to make sure we asked what you wanted to know. Yuri Romanov, age 36, writes, 'Kim, Ron, and Rufus have always been the ones out in the field. I was wondering if Wade ever gets tired of being the one stuck at the computer.'"

Wade smiled. "Well, I've actually been out in the field a few times since our encounter with Team Impossible, which was my first time to get involved in a more hands-on way. And I have to say I'm perfectly happy being the tech guy. I mean, sure, sometimes I wish I could do some of the things these guys can do, but at the same time I know I'm able to play a bigger role by staying at the ops center and giving them backup where they need it."

Heather nodded. "Okay, let's get our next question from here in the studio. Yes, you in the Middleton High shirt."

Kim recognized the girl as one she'd seen in the halls back at school.

"I was just wondering if you feel you missed anything, any of the three of you, because of what you do. You know, if you had an idea of high school or social life that you didn't get to experience because of the missions."

Ron shook his head. "Well, every person's high school experience is different. If you're asking if we missed the basic core of high school, I don't think any of us would say so. If you mean the classic high school experience, then I'd say the only thing I might feel I missed would be the parties, but I'm not that big into that anyway, so it doesn't really affect me so much."

Kim nodded. "I would have to say I agree with Ron on the basic core. On the classic view, I'd say the only thing I really missed was the typical high school student downtime. I didn't miss out on it completely, mainly because I had some great friends who would pull me aside when they saw me getting too stressed and take me out with them to grab a smoothie or go on a shopping trip. Also, we both had to keep on top of our work as much as possible, because we never knew when we'd get called off on a mission. And for the most part, I'd say we did just fine on that, especially if you consider we both graduated with solid GPAs."

Wade had a sort of half-smile on his face. "I knew from the start that I wasn't going to have a normal educational experience. I mean, I'm just now at the age that most kids are in maybe 7th or 8th grade, and I've already finished both high school and college. Do I think I missed something? No, not really, because I still get to hang out with friends, and I still have to deal with the basics of teenage life like crushes and changing friendships. I just don't have to deal with the school scene while I do that."

Heather smiled. "Okay, how about another international letter. This one comes to us from Sydney, Australia. Michelle Vaughn, age 16, writes, 'Kim, I was wondering why you chose to be with Ron when you did? I know he's a great guy, but it just seems to me that if you've always been friends with him, you would have seen the attraction a lot sooner."

Kim smiled and shrugged. "Well, to be honest Michelle, you're right. I didn't see it at first because I wasn't looking for it in him. See, I'm just a normal teenage girl like you, and I'm just as susceptible to the pressures of friends and the 'food chain' as you are. I thought that being who I was necessitated having a boyfriend of equally high social standing, and Ron wasn't. He was fine as a best friend, but not as a boyfriend. Luckily I got a wakeup call from being played by a fake guy sent at me by Dr. Drakken, and I realized that it didn't matter what others thought, it only mattered what I felt in my heart. And my heart tells me that Ron is the guy for me."

Ron shifted in his seat. "Uhh, Heather, I'd like to address this as well, if you don't mind."

The reporter smiled. "I don't see why not."

Ron grinned. "It probably didn't help that I didn't ever really tell Kim how I felt about her until that night we were at Bueno Nacho headquarters to stop Drakken's plans. I mean sure, I had thought about it, and really who hadn't, but I'd never had the guts to tell her that I considered her more than a best friend. I couldn't really tell you where it started, but I've felt this way about Kim for a long time. I'm just glad we've got the chance to be together now."

As he finished, Kim reached over and took his hand in hers, lacing his fingers with her own.

Heather smiled. "Okay, audience. Umm, yes, you in the fourth row with the blonde hair and red shirt."

A middle-aged woman stood up. "Yes, I was just wondering how long you two kids are going to be together. You seem awfully young to me to be deciding to be together for the rest of your lives."

Kim looked over at Ron and saw the gulping motion move down his throat. This must have been the question line she'd overheard him asking Heather to avoid. Hoping to save her boyfriend from sticking his foot in his mouth, she quickly spoke up.

"Well, we are taking it one day at a time. Of course, we look at the future and see what we want, but we do our best not to let our view get so far ahead that we forget to enjoy the time in front of us. We're not the perfect couple, and we've had our fights. But we do our best to work through them, and so far we've yet to hit a wall too tall for us to climb. We both realize that despite being called to shoulder adult responsibility, we're both still young. We still have a lot of growing to do and things to experience, like college, but for right now we fit each other's plans. I can tell you right now we're not going to go off and elope as soon as I turn 18, but I can tell you that as of this moment, I love Ron with my whole heart. And if I look at my future from this point, I don't see anyone I'd rather spend my life with." She glanced over at him as she finished, and was pleased to see he was visibly relaxed.

Ron nodded. "Like Kim said, we just take things as they come. Who knows where this is going to take us, or what would happen if we met something we couldn't handle, but for now we're just enjoying the ride and each other, and that's the way we like it. So to answer your question, we'll be together as long as we both think its working." With that, he leaned over to Kim and the two shared a very quick but loving kiss, mindful that they were still live on national TV.

Heather nodded. "Yes, you in the back corner with the black shirt." As soon as she acknowledged the man, however, Heather pressed her security alert button, because the man was wearing a shirt with a very mature drawing of Kim on it. She only hoped that his question didn't cross the line and make the two teens uncomfortable."

"Yeah, I was just wondering how often you two have gone at it on the way back from a mission?"

Heather stood and pointed at the offender. "Security, remove that man at once!" As the guy was taken away, she turned to Kim and Ron and spoke clearly and concisely so that the rest of the audience, both studio and home, could hear and understand her. "Don't worry about answering that, you two. No one who truly knows you would ever suspect that of you." Then she turned towards the cameras. "We do apologize for that ladies and gentlemen. Questions from the audience have not been screened, and we here at Channel 6 Middleton did not expect that to happen to such wonderful young people."

She shook her head and smiled again. "Now, then, how about another question from the home audience. This one comes to us all the way from the small town of Happy Point, Alaska. Janet Dawson, age 32, asks, 'Ron, you constantly claim that you are happy to let Kim have the spotlight. Why do you not step up and claim the credit when it clearly belongs to you, such as the times when you were the one responsible for Team Possible defeating Monkey Fist?"

Ron smiled one of the biggest smiles Kim had ever seen. "Honestly, Mrs. Dawson, I don't see the credit as mine, I see it as still belonging to Kim. While I may have been the one to stop him, without Kim I'm not there in the first place. It's because of her that I get to even go on most of these missions. Without her, I would most likely be just another goof-off sitting at home here in Middleton, probably playing video games and stuffing myself on Bueno Nacho. The majority of what I am, I can attribute in some way, shape, or form to my friendship and now relationship with this absolutely wonderful woman."

Heather nodded. "Now, we have time for one last question, and for this one, we going to our international audience once more. This time our question comes all the way from the opposite side of the world in the town of Cercemaggiore, in the heart of Italy. Sergio Balboa, age 8, asks, 'To all of Team Possible, what is one thing you hope to accomplish before you stop being heroes?'"

Wade grinned, and both Kim and Ron nodded at him. "Well, I think we all just want to make sure the world is a better place for our efforts. If what we do inspires one even one person, including you, Sergio, to do something great with their life, then Team Possible has accomplished what we set out to do. Right, guys?"

Ron agreed. "Exactly. We are able to do what we do simply because we believe we can make a difference by trusting in our own abilities. If that shows someone else that they can also follow their dreams, then we'll be happy with it when we finally hang up the mission gear."

Kim nodded. "That's right. I may use the phrase a lot more than most because it's my name, but 'Anything is Possible' really rings true for anyone. You just have to have faith that you can accomplish your goals, and then put your everything towards that. If you do that, then even if you fall short, you'll know you gave it everything you have, and you'll still be the winner."

Heather smiled. "Well, unfortunately, that's all the time we have. Channel 6 would like to extend a special thank you to you, Team Possible, both for tonight and all you have done and continue to do."

"You're very welcome, Heather, and thank you for having us," Kim replied with a smile.

"Definitely," agreed Ron casually, though Kim could sense there was more behind his thank you than hers.

"It's been a pleasure," said Wade.

"Hrk. Uh huh. Uh huh. Thank you," chittered Rufus as he hopped back on Ron's shoulder.

Heather turned back towards the cameras. "And so, from all of us to all of you, have a safe rest of your evening. I'm Heather Tyler, here with Team Possible, and they and all of us here at Channel 6 Middleton News wish you and yours a good night."

The red lights clicked off, and all of Team Possible visibly relaxed. Rufus even decided on sitting on Ron's shoulder rather than standing on it. Ron reached over to pat the little guy.

"Don't worry, buddy. Just a little bit longer and you can go back in the pocket and rest."

The mole rat sighed in relief, the popped back up on his feet.

Heather smiled at the group. "If you guys aren't too tired, would you mind doing a meet-and-greet with our studio audience? A lot of them really want to shake hands with you guys."

Kim nodded. "No big."

Heather motioned for the security to remove the ropes blocking the audience from the stage, and the fans surged forward, though Kim noticed with some relief it seemed a good deal calmer than the crowd that had been outside. As the line moved past her, she was pleased to see that people weren't just shaking hands with her and then leaving, they were going through the whole team—even Rufus was getting plenty of attention. Of course, that had been the message they intended to send tonight, that they were Team Possible, emphasis on the "Team" part. All in all, it was enjoyable, even if they could see practically nothing but spots from all the pictures for a few minutes after the last person left. Wade got up to check with the station manager if they could get a copy of the tape so they could use it in case anything was severely misquoted in the coming days. That left Kim and Ron sitting there alone in the empty studio for a few minutes.

"Hey, KP, did you mean what you said back there? About not seeing anyone else you'd rather spend the rest of your life with?" Ron sounded tired, almost as if he wished he were the one sleeping in the pocket while Rufus was the one awake.

Kim smiled. "Of course, Ronnie. I meant every word of it." To prove it, she drew him to her for one scorcher of a kiss.

When Ron pulled back, his eyes had lost all trace of exhaustion. "Man, wish I'd had that for an alarm clock. Barkin would have never nailed me for a single tardy."

Kim grinned. "Speaking of school, I think we might want to look seriously at G.V.U. I mean, it fits most of our criteria. It's not in Middleton, it's not too big but not too small, and it's got good programs for both of us."

Ron was about to reply that it was more like the university "borrowed" all their programs, but then something crossed his mind. "Hey, KP, I just realized something. You've never told me what you want to major in."

Kim shrugged and leaned forward with her elbows on her thighs. "To be honest, Ronnie, I really don't know myself. I mean I always say I can do anything, but now it really is true. Once I knock out the general education classes, whatever I want to do, I can do. And if Wade's right about this school, which I suspect he is if Betty's trying to make sure we can still both go, we can pick the best in the land to learn from. I mean, it's like somebody is saying, 'Here's whatever you want to do and whoever you want to learn it from,' and they know I can't just pick outright. Plus, I can't say for certain if I pick something now that I'm not going to want change halfway through…mmmmmm." Her train of thought was interrupted by Ron's gentle rubbing of her lower back.

"That feels really nice, Ronnie. I think I know one of the things I want for my birthday from you."

Ron smiled and continued rubbing. "What's that, KP?"

Kim turned her head so that her hair covered half her face while she looked at her boyfriend. It came across as very, very sexy.

"I want a full back massage done like this one from you at least once a day until I turn 18 on Wednesday," she purred, winking at him with her visible eye.

Though the rubbing continued, Ron got very nervous. "Okay, that works all but Friday. I have to work that day at Smarty Marty and then cover an extra shift that night to make up for tonight."

Kim pouted a little but agreed. After all, she was going to have cover an extra shift over at Club Banana for the same reason. "Okay. Starting tomorrow then."

At that moment, a man dressed in a suit entered the studio and approached them. He was wearing what looked like a very expensive suit and shades, and he carried a dark brown briefcase.

"Mr. Stoppable, we need to talk."


The look on that blue face had Shego completely confused. She'd expected to render him speechless, what she hadn't expected was the look in his eyes that followed her statement.

"Dr. D., I think I might be pregnant," she said again.

Drakken had frozen in the midst of what he was doing and looked at her. The result was that he looked like one of those mad chemists who pour too much into a beaker on purpose. As it was, the chemical he was pouring was completely missing its intended container and splashing on the lab table. Thankfully, it wasn't something that would hurt him if he touched it, or at least she didn't think it was. After a minute he seemed to come to. He set down both beakers in the mess that had been created, and lifted his goggles to peer at her.

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.

Shego nodded nervously. "I can't be 100% yet, but a home test says I am. I'm also late, and I've never been late in my life. If I am, it hit on the absolute last day it could have before I started."

Drakken removed his lab goggles and set them on the table. "So, how do you feel about it?"

Shego looked at him. "Well, it's not something I planned on, I can tell you that. But at the same time, I'm not going to stop it. If I have to do this alone, I will. And I'll kick butt while I'm at it."

Drakken smiled. "Sheila, you won't have to do this alone. Mother may not be happy about the way we did things, but I promise you we'll put it right. I'm not saying let's go find a Justice of the Peace right now, because I don't know if we're ready for that right now. But you are not going to be alone. I promise that." With that, he turned back to his workstation and started cleaning up, whatever experiment he'd been doing apparently completely abandoned.

Shego looked at her employer turned lover with a surprised look on her face. Of all the reactions she'd expected out of him, this one hadn't been high on the list. True, it was one of the ones she'd hoped for, but her hopes hadn't been high. Normally when things went a little off track, he panicked and got frustrated, but something about this was evidently different in his eyes. Somehow, he was pulling out a strength she'd never seen before. She agreed they weren't ready for the big "M" word, but the very fact that he was willing to stick around was a very pleasant turn of events, and it bolstered her confidence.

It bolstered it enough to consider other problems they were about to face as she started walking slowly back to her personal quarters. Problems like what would happen if they pulled another scheme and got caught like they'd been after the Lil' Diablo plan had gone south. True, they could normally escape pretty quickly, but would she still be able to that in six months? Not to mention that she wasn't going to be able to go toe-to-toe with Miss Priss once she started showing. But at the same time, Shego was worried what he'd say if she asked him to take a break. Drakken could be a real workaholic when he got down to it, and plus he loved being a mad scientist. As she thought about that, she was suddenly struck with a flash of inspiration.

Many times they'd talked about the effects a certain device had on them, and how terrible it would have been if they'd both been zapped at the same time. But now, thinking about it more, would it really be so bad? Of course, they'd need help once the change was performed, particularly where a certain annoying spy network was concerned. And as far as Shego knew, there weren't that many people they were well acquainted with who would be willing to turn them good and then let them go. Of course, there were always her brothers, but while she had an inkling they'd be willing to help her, they were much more likely to turn her to good before turning her employer-turned-boyfriend over to the authorities. That wasn't a situation she was even close to willing to deal with.

That last thought caused her to stop dead in her tracks. Boyfriend. For maybe the first time in her life, Shego had an honest-to-goodness boyfriend. True, she'd had boyfriends back when she was attending Go City Central High, but practically all of them had turned out to be jerks and frogs who were only interested in dating her so they could claim they were with the "hot" member of Team Go. The same thing had happened in college, though a few of those pit-stains had taken it further than simply dating her and then bragged about it all over the campus of Go City University. Since then, she couldn't really call any of her other relationships more than flings or affairs. Even that brief thing she'd had with that teacher at the Princess's high school couldn't really be called an actual relationship.

Shego entered her room, shutting the door behind her, and flopped down face-first on her bed. She lay like that for several minutes before she rolled over on her back and placed her left hand on her midsection. A million thoughts were running through her head, and she shut her eyes and put her other arm over her eyes in a vain attempt to shut them out. However, one thought kept shooting to the front, and it managed to break through her defenses.

I wonder if the Princess and her boyfriend ever have to deal with stuff like this.

Suddenly Shego's eyes flew open, and she sat bolt upright so quick she felt a little whiplash in her neck. As she rubbed it, the idea started to take shape. The two teens did owe her for the kick she'd given Drakken to stop him from spilling the beans about the boy's abilities to Global Justice, giving the young man time to prepare his explanation. They were also in debt to her from the times she'd saved Kimmie from being killed by Warmonga or by Drakken when he had been possessed by that pirate ghost. One call or click, and she could settle that debt quickly and cleanly. She only hoped they'd be willing to help.

She quietly padded over to her door and silently turned the deadbolt. She didn't want Drakken to pop in on her unexpectedly, especially when she was about ask for help from one of his greatest foes. She quickly went over to her personal computer, thankful that she wasn't on the lair's official network. Before she could change her mind, she brought up the needed website, typed in the information, and submitted it. As she closed the browser, she couldn't help but laugh to herself.

Boy, isn't the Princess in for a surprise…


It seemed to Ron that the past few hours had been a complete blur while at the same time moving at a snail's pace. The man with the briefcase had requested to follow them home, saying that he needed to speak to both Ron and his parents. Kim and Ron had agreed, saying they just need to drop Wade off first. Once they were back at his house, he introduced the man to his parents, and the meeting began with Ron in the room. However, that had been a mere formality, because as soon as the man saw Gene and Jean Stoppable, Ron might as well have not existed. The part of the meeting he was allowed to see lasted all of five minutes, and he never did learn who the man was working for, only that he represented a very large corporation. What surprised him even more is that he was asked to get Kim's parents as well, while he and Kim were ordered to stay out of the dining room.

Now he sat in the living room with Kim, her head on his lap as he flipped through the TV channels. Neither one of them had heard a peep from behind the dining room doors, and his parents had closed the blinds on the glass doors so that the two teens couldn't even read lips. It had been over three hours since the man arrived, and two hours since the Drs. Possible had been asked to enter. It bugged him just slightly more that Kim didn't even seem the least bit curious. She had her nose buried in some book she'd gotten during her senior year of AP English at Middleton. It was putting him off quite a bit, to the point he couldn't even pay attention to what was on the TV, even though it was a Fearless Ferret marathon, which he hardly ever missed. Originally he'd turned it on as a distraction, but it wasn't even doing that anymore.

Kim could sense that Ron was stewing about something, but there was nothing she could do. She had originally tried to distract him, but he just couldn't get into the kissing. She'd finally given up shortly after her parents had been summoned to join the meeting. That seemed strange to her, but there was nothing she could do about it so she let it slide. She was also the one who had suggested her BF tune in to the Fearless Ferret marathon, since it was one of his favorite shows, but it seemed that now he was in such a funk that it was no longer working. However, as long as he seemed content to sit there and channel surf with her head on his lap, she wasn't going to push the issue. Just like whatever he had up his sleeve, she knew he'd talk about it when he was ready.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, they were called in to the dining room. What they were told made both their eyes grow wide as saucers.

"Kimberly, Ronald," started Gene Stoppable, "this gentleman here is Mr. Sikes, and he is the official lawyer for the Bueno Nacho Corporation. He came over here because they believe there are some things to settle up with you two."

Kim and Ron looked at each other in surprise before grabbing seats at the table.

James Possible continued. "It seems that when they started totaling up the numerous gains they have acquired because of you two, they realized that there were certain accounts that needed to be settled. First off, there is of course the matter of Ronald's invention of the Naco, but there are also things that they owe you, Kimmie."

Kim did a double-take. "Me? What do they owe me?"

Anne Possible smiled. "Well, Kim, it seems that it was due to your suggestion that they came out with that Hablamos Salad, and it's become one of their biggest sellers. Not to mention the fact that the two of you are the reason that the restaurant was able get back into business so quickly after Dr. Drakken's failed Lil' Diablo schemes. Plus, according to their records, you two are the most loyal customers in the history of the company, even more so than the founders."

Ron's mouth dropped open. "We've given you more business than Carmen and Carlos Ortega?"

Kim nodded. "I suppose that happens when we go there practically every day after school."

Mr. Sikes spoke like he was some sort of government agent, not some high-priced lawyer. "Affirmative. Our records show you eating there almost every day since the Middleton location opened, not to mention that young Mr. Stoppable was the first ever customer the location had on opening day. We even have a period of time recorded where it would appear that Mr. Stoppable ate at that location for every meal. By doing that, you have nearly doubled the amount of business that Mr. and Mrs. Ortega have given their business. They feel it deserves compensation."

Kim shook her head in confusion. "What do you mean, compensation?"

Jean Stoppable grinned. "Well, for one thing, it means that with all the business you and Ronnie have given them, they could tear down and rebuild that location every day for a year and still come out ahead. The other thing is that they want to give you two some financial compensation."

Kim got immediate flashes of a repeat of Ron's Naco Royalties disaster. She knew she could handle it, but Ron certainly wasn't that good at money. In fact, the reason the past few months had seemed so strange to her was his complete 180 on how he handled his funding. What would happen if he were to once again get a check for $99 Million?

Gene read the look on his son's girlfriend's face perfectly. "I imagine you're thinking of the first royalties check that Ronald received, am I correct Kimberly?"

Kim nodded, slightly ashamed that she'd been that easy for her boyfriend's father to read. She also hated the slightly hurt look she now saw in her boyfriend's eyes.

Gene smiled. "Don't worry about that. We have set it up so that neither of you has to worry about that."

Mr. Sikes's face showed no trace of emotion. "Affirmative. Both Miss Possible and Mr. Stoppable will be receiving a compensation check from the Bueno Nacho Corporation, and your parents have set it so that that money will be going into trust accounts that you will have limited access to until such time as you reach the age of 25 or are married at 21. It should also be noted that both of you are hereby granted full compensation rights at any current or future Bueno Nacho location. This will also apply to anyone that is with you at the time."

Two teen mouths fell open, but for slightly different reasons. Both Kim and Ron were of course shocked at the money. However, whereas Ron was salivating at the idea of free Bueno Nacho any time he wanted, the same concept made Kim just a tad put off. There was no way she was going to let him start taking her to the Tex-Mex place for every meal. While he had grown up some, taking her to places like Chez Couteaux without that stupid coupon book of his, it often put a taxing weight on his other finances. What would he do if they could eat there for free? She looked over at him, and though he stopped salivating, there was a gleam in his eye that she couldn't quite put a reason to.

The lawyer handed each teen a contract. "All that's necessary is for you two to sign these. Your parents have already looked them over to make sure there are no extenuating clauses."

Kim and Ron looked at each other, gave matching smiles and shrugs, and signed. Then Mr. Sikes took the contracts, put them in his briefcase, and snapped it shut. He nodded to all, and started for the door. Once there, he stopped and turned towards James and Gene, who had gotten up to show him out.

"You have your copies of the ones you signed, correct?"

Gene Stoppable and James Possible both nodded, and Sikes left. When the two fathers turned and saw the confused looks on their children's faces, they both smiled.

Gene spoke first. "Before we had you two enter, the four of us signed contracts with him that made sure that the company isn't going to do something like this again. You see, when they gave Ronald that first check, what they were actually doing was buying him off and keeping the rest of the profits they would make on the Naco themselves. This way, no matter how many more of that or of that salad they sell, the two of you will benefit. It also means that they can't simply get around paying you by stopping the production of the items without first showing fair reason for their actions in court."

Kim didn't know what her reaction to this was, but she did have one question. "When he said limited access, what did he mean?"

James smiled at his daughter. "What that means, Kimmie-cub, is that every month until you take control of the account officially, you will start receiving a stipend from it. And if you treat it wisely, which I'm sure you both will after what you learned from Ronald's trouble last time, it could mean that you might possibly never have to work another day in your life. Whatever you said when you suggested to Ned that they put a salad on the menu really hit home, because according to what Mr. Sikes showed us, the only things beating its sales are the Slurpster and Ronald's Naco. Plus, you two do seem to help out that restaurant an awful lot."

Kim felt her mouth drop open for what felt like the hundredth time that night. All she'd done was make a passing conversation suggestion to Ned about having something healthier on the menu. She vaguely remembered suggesting it be a salad, and she thought the name "Hablamos" had come up, but she couldn't be sure. Still, there was the fact that they had been right about them saving the corporation more times than she could count. She was just starting to wonder about that when Ron popped in with another thought that Kim was surprised she hadn't come up with herself.

"So does this mean that we're going to have to make appearances and do stuff for them?"

Jean Stoppable shook her head. "No, we made sure they couldn't do that. They can ask you to appear or do something to promote them, but it's ultimately your choice whether you do or not. They can't force you to do anything or claim a breach of contract if you don't participate."

Kim was flabbergasted. "So when does this all start?"

Her father smiled. "Well, it actually starts tomorrow when the first checks hit your trust accounts. And you'll both get your stipends transferred over as soon as we see it hit. For now, I'm in charge of your account and Ron's father is in charge of his."

Ron was just as surprised as Kim. "But how did you all get this set up so fast?"

His mother grinned. "Mr. Sikes actually called here a few days ago to set up the meeting about you, Ronnie, and when he learned the Possibles were also staying here, he suggested just having one big meeting about the both of you here at the house. So yesterday when I was at the bank, I set up the accounts. Kim's mother came by as well when she was between procedures to sign off on Kim's account, and we were all set to have it while you two were at the interview. But when I gave Mr. Sikes directions, he got lost. So I told him to just meet you two at the news station since it's in the middle of town and easy to find."

The teens looked at each other, unsure of what to say. However, Ron only held the contact for a moment.

"Umm Dad, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

Gene smiled. "Of course, son. We can talk in my office."

As they entered and closed the door, Kim got the oddest feeling she knew what was going on. But she couldn't have said why she felt like that if her life depended on it. A few minutes later they reemerged, and Ron once again had that big, goofy grin on his face.

What are you up to Ron Stoppable?


a/n

I always appreciate reviews, but I would greatly appreciate if you didn't mention specific plot pieces you see coming down the pipes. If I haven't mentioned it yet, there's a reason for that. I'm also trying to write this for people who may not be as religious about following the show as some of us are, and if I leave something obvious out, it's for a reason.

Still, I always appreciate a review, so keep 'em coming. :)