She was dreaming…at least she thought she was. She was home, back in Middleton. But…she was…wasn't she in…somewhere? There was a…a beach…and…and…AARRRGGHHHH! Kim was having a hard time keeping her thoughts straight. She…there was something outside, something she hat to…to stop. She…she had to get outside! Kim leapt to her feet and ran towards the front door and…

…WHAM…

Kim collided with the unbudging surface of her front door. What…what was happening? This was…no; she…she had to get out of here! She had to stop…whatever it was that was going to happen. She had to save them…whoever "them" were. Hands clenching into fists, she hammered onto the solid oak door, heaving with all her might. She had to get out there! She had to stop what was going to happen! The door wasn't budging…THE WINDOW! The big bay window in the living room; surely she could break through that! A plan firmly in her mind, Kim took off back to the living room. She leapt over the sofa in one jump…and stopped dead in her tracks.

…Ron…

…Tara…

…Monique…

…Mindy Hoffman…

…Aunt Amy…

It seemed like every Wesen she'd ever known since becoming a Grimm stood before her in full woge. Every set of eyes seemed to be focused on her, burrowing through flesh and bone to the point that Kim felt like they were staring at her very soul itself. And…and they were in trouble! They…they had to get out of here! Kim had to get out of here and warn them! She…the glass wouldn't break…just like the door! Kim grabbed a lamp from the side table and started hammering with all her might. But it remained intact. Kim couldn't get out of the house!

"Run," she gasped in exhaustion. "Please run! You've got to get out of here!"

But they didn't move. Their eyes remained focused on her. This was bad! They…whoever they were…were almost here and she couldn't get out to…then it happened. It started off slow but through her anguished cries and frantic movements, Kim could see figures taking shape in the shadows. Very quickly, the figures became people, people clad all in black and wearing monstrous masks and…without any warning, they descended on the Wesen. With swords drawn, they slaughtered their way through the crowd, right before Kim's eyes. The Wesen…the Wesen weren't even fighting back! They…why…why didn't they fight back?

"NOOOOOOOO!" Kim wailed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face. Her limbs already felt like jelly but she kept hammering away. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

"But we can," Without warning, one of the black clad figures appeared. A woman, Kim could tell even through her delirium. "You give us our power. We are everywhere and we cannot be stopped," She lifted a hand and slowly removed her mask…and Kim's blood turned to ice. It felt like the very essence of herself was shaken. Kim was staring face to face with…herself. "All Wesen must die…because of you Kim Possible," The alternate Kim spun around and with a precise and fluid motion, sliced off the heads of Ron Stoppable, Tara Lutz, and Monique and Amy Pritchard.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Kim's exhaustion finally got the better of her and she collapsed to the floor, gaining the small mercy of no longer being witness to the butchary that was going on…but she couldn't shake the awareness of what was going on outside. All…all Wesen were…dying…because of her! The ones she'd grown up with and cared about, Kim was killing them. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried…the darkness…the shadows were too great for Kim to protect them, her friends, her family. She…she couldn't…

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Anne felt like she was hanging on by a threat that was half worn through already. As she looked through the window into the intensive care room where her daughter was now being cared for, she couldn't help but try to take stock of their current situation. The events of the past few hours were such a blur. Kimmie had gone into shock and…Anne had just been operating on autopilot from then on. She barely even remembered Kimmie being helped into the ambulance or even coming to the hospital. The dagger had struck so close to Kim's stomach and…at the time, she was losing so much blood and…Anne hadn't thought of the Lynnes since. Every ounce of thought was devoted to her daughter.

"Anne?"

While Anne and Sean had both gone with Kim in the ambulance, Mom had gone with Meisner and the rest of the Laufer agents to secure their prisoners. She'd been gone…Anne was so exhausted she had absolutely no idea how long Mom had been gone or when precisely she'd gotten to the hospital…Anne's body just reacted on instinct. She turned and wrapped her arms around the older woman, almost as if the past decades hadn't happened, and began openly sobbing into her mother's shoulder.

"Tell me she's going to be okay Mom," Anne heaved, holding her mother as tight as she could. "I…I…this CAN'T happen! Just…sniff…just tell me my baby girl is going to be okay."

Anne could feel Mom running her hand through Anne's hair just like Anne had done countless times with Kim. "Shhhhh," Mom planted a tender kiss on Anne's nose, again just like before. "Kim's going to be fine. Kim's stronger than a Taurus Amentia and braver than a Steinadler. She's going to be fine!"

And if Mom said it, it had to be so. It HAD to be!

"I'm so…sniff…sorry Mom, for everything. I…I said such awful things to you…"

"Oh Annie; we don't have to talk about that now," Mom lifted Anne's head off her shoulder and Anne could tell that Mom was studying her. "Annie, you're exhausted. You go and get some sleep and I'll keep an eye on Ki. I'll come get you the minute the doctors know something or your friend Amy gets back from the airport with James."

And once again, Mom saying it seemed to make it so. All the exhaustion Anne had been fighting back seemed to cascade over her like a ruptured dam. She…she did need sleep. The way she felt right now…if Anne shut her eyes, she'd probably sleep for days.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Kidnapping, conspiracy, murder, attempted murder; with a little help from Sean Renard and the Laufer, they had the Lynnes dead to rights on the charges related to Kim alone, not to mention the whole host of charges in at least three other countries. Even the best lawyer in the world wouldn't be able to get the family off the hook…and as much as Andrew Lynne would argue to the contrary, the family wasn't so important to the Royals that they'd bother intervening in the case. Without question, the Lynnes, the last chance of the Ende der Zeitens ever becoming a viable world threat again, were finished.

"Barbara Kessler?"

Barbara turned to see the form of Captain Renard, Kim's ally from back in the States.

"You're Sean Renard, Annie's friend."

"I try to be. How are you holding up?"

"As well as can be expected I suppose; are you sure that Kim's safe here?"

"I called in a few favors with the Laufer," He assured, turning to face the operating room. "Also the Chief of Medicine happens to be an old friend from boarding school. I just wanted to tell you that I got word from our mutual friend that we're set to proceed with our legal maneuvers but…forgive me Mrs. Kessler, but are you sure you want to move forward with this? Your granddaughter is the lynchpin in all of this and she WILL have to go before a trial. Rest assured the outcome isn't in question with the evidence we have but with such a public figure as Lynne, it will be very pubic and trying on your granddaughter. At least one of the Royal families is sure to get wind of the fact that Lynne's daughter passed on their contract to kill me because she saw Kim as a higher valued target…which would make them more than a little curious. Is your family prepared for that?"

And that was an extremely fair question. Barbara had absolutely no love for the Royals and any chance to poke them in the eye was appealing but she wasn't so foolish as to see them as harmless. And thankfully she knew enough about her daughter to know that she shared the same beliefs. There was potential for their inquiries and even harassment and should the potential prove to be factual, Barbara was confident that steer them away but…but…no. No; enough blood had been shed, both innocent and guilty, around Kim. Everyone had heard how Kim had spared Adrianna Lynne and…had seen the ensuing results. But Kim…she needed to see justice be done, not more bloodshed. This was what was best for everybody. Daddy may have been a Grimm but…he was also a cop. If at all possible, he always relied on the rule of law and had brought up Barbara and her siblings with a firm appreciation for it.

"We're sure Captain. Anne and I will make preparations for the worst but…most important is the fact that Kim needs this."

"I'll contact Interpol then," The Captain smiled and nodded.

"Madmoisel Possible?"

The pair was interrupted by a scrubs clad doctor. A least they finally had some news. She'd have to wake up Anne.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

"Your daughter is indeed a lucky woman," Kim's x-rays and results appeared on the screens. "I'm afraid that the knife blade did indeed damage the stomach and caused a good degree of blood loss but we've managed to stop the bleeding and repair most of the damage. She should be receiving a blood transfusion as we speak."

Well…it could've been far worse. Of that, Anne could at least be supremely thankful. Any doctor worth their scrubs knew that stomach wounds were dangerous and needed rapid attention. But even with the damage repaired, a stomach wound always equated to a long and difficult recovery; and that was just the physical aspect of the recovery. But Kimmie was alive. That was all that mattered. Any physical or psychological trauma that arose, they could overcome as a family.

"If I may ask, what in God's name happened to the poor girl?"

All involved had agreed that there was no harm in giving the truth, or at least an approximation of it. Middleton PD had an official kidnapping report on file and last Anne had spoken with her, Mack was in DC bringing the FBI up to speed. Both Sean and she had police credentials so it wouldn't look ABSOLUTELY out of place for them to be there. Kim had escaped her captors and contacted the authorities and her family but had been discovered prior to getting to a police station. Adrianna Lynne's death was an open and shut case of self-defense and that was all that had needed to be said.

"Mon Diu; its remarkable she was able to survive."

"Pardonnes-moi Docteur. Le patient se reveile."

"Bon; your daughter is waking up. I'll take you to her room."

Everyone filed out of the room and down the hall. Amy and James had gotten to the hospital within minutes of Sean waking Anne up. It had felt like…months…since she'd seen her husband and the additional moral support had been an enormous relief to Anne's nerves; James, always her rock, her fixed point in the universe that she could always fall back to. He held her hand firmly as they entered the hospital room, finally getting their first look at their daughter. Clad in a hospital gown, hair tied back in a messy ponytail, Kim still looked awfully pale, likely due to blood loss. But the host of monitors they'd attached Kim to, from where Anne could see, were all spitting out good news.

"Kimmie; sweetie?"

"M…mmmm…Mom?"

"I'm right here Kimmie," Anne's free hand shot out towards Kim's left hand.

"Wh…where am I? What happened to…to the Lynnes?"

"You're in the hospital, Kimmie," James leaned down and wrapped his free arm around Kim. It must've been a little too much because Kim hissed in pain. "Oooh, sorry sweetheart…uh; you're in a hospital in Brest. You…the woman who attacked you…her knife got you in the stomach…and the doctors here took care of everything. You're going to be just fine. We're going to take yoou home and it's all going to be okay."

"What…what happened to…cough…to Adrianna Lynne? She…she was charging at me and…and…"

"And one of the officers managed to get his gun up in time to shoot her," Kim…Kim was in no shape to deal with…with the younger Lynne's death right now. If there was any justice, Kim was still loopy enough from the pain medication that she'd just accept it. What really happened…that was something best discussed with other Grimms. "It…it was just incredibly bad luck that the momentum carried her the way it did. But Kimmie…you saved my life. Do you realize that? If you hadn't have shoved me aside the way you did, the dagger would've gone squarely into my back and…who knows what would've happened. You're a hero Kim."

"I…I just…want to go home."

Oh God; Anne's heart welled up in her throat. Her daughter…she'd trained her daughter to fight, to survive under the harshest conditions…and at times like this, when Anne looked at the young woman before her…so…so helpless and…and still so young…only a parent could ever understand it. This was her only daughter, who come Hell or Hundjägers, would always be her baby girl.

"As soon as you're well enough to travel Kim, you'll never have to set foot here again. I swear to you."

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

"James and I had just put the finishing touches on it the day I found out I was pregnant with Kim. I'd had everything stashed in a series of storage lockers all over town, minus what was still in your and Daddy's old apartment in Chicago. Kim was…two, I think, before I'd managed to get everything in here and organized. Thank goodness for Amy's antique connections or I would've had to explain why a medical examiner was shipping boxes fully of weapons that were more than a little blood-stained. She kind of talked me into the whole medieval alchemy lab motif…but what do you think?"

Everyone agreed that they couldn't get Kim home fast enough. The moment the doctors cleared her, Kim's records were forwarded to Doc Newton at Middleton General and Anne was FINALLY able to take her daughter back home where she belonged. And barely 8 hours later, after what seemed like a lifetime, Anne and James Possible guided a semi-comatose Kim Possible through the door and up to her room where Anne proceeded to tuck her daughter in snuggly as only a mother could do, and then, after one of the most trying experiences of her life, she retreated to her own bedroom, kissed her husband goodnight, laid her head on her feather pillow, and slept contentedly, the lioness knowing that she'd succeeded in protecting her cub.

But as the sun crept up over the horizon, bringing with it a fresh and new day, Anne couldn't help but remember…Mom; she…everyone had been so concerned about Kim, getting her home safe, that all thoughts of her reunion with Mom had been pushed out. Daddy was…and Mom was…and she…she DID seem like a completely different person.

So here mother and daughter were, calmly sitting at the same table for the first time since…her and James's wedding?

"Annie, you've done an incredible job," Mom congratulated, heaving a sigh. "Though if I may, what's with the laptop and scanner in the center?"

"Oh…that's a little pet project of Kim's. She wants to digitize and translate the entire library.

"Well, I think it's great."

"Amy's been a lot of help in obtain some of it. But…" This was it, now or never. "Mom, I…I don't even know where to begin. Kim shows up in Brest emotionally wrung out and…and then I find the note in Daddy's old duffle and…"

"Well…I guess I'm at just as much of a loss sweetheart…but I…I can only say I'm sorry Anne. I…I've failed so severely…with myself and with you that…where…where would you like me to begin?"

"Begin with Daddy."

"Ok; as the note said, your Dad had been approached by an old Army buddy who was now in Army Intelligence, a Kehrseite-Schlich-Kennen, about a Koschie in Chicago they suspected was working for the KGB. As a favor, your Dad agreed to snoop around some of the locations where the Koschie had been lurking and from what he'd managed to tell me, your Dad had managed to would him and drive him off but not before…you know the rest. The only explanation the doctors could come up with was cancer and…but I KNEW that he was murdered."

It was true. All of it was true! And that explained so much that…good God; Anne's entire life up to this point was flashing before her eyes, each event, every bitter argument and yelling match between mother and daughter seen in a whole new light. "But Mom…why? Why didn't you tell me? I mean…I know I was only eleven at the time but…I could've at least understood and we could've…you…you let me…HATE you for so long."

"That was…simple selfishness I guess. I…I was so furious at the world for taking your Dad away from me that I didn't see it like he'd been taken away from you too. All I knew was that I lost my husband…and I wanted revenge. I wanted to find the Koschie, ANY Wesen who had a hand in it, and I wanted to make them hurt…the way I did."

"So all the trips…the months at a time I'd spend staying with relatives and Grandpa and Grandma…did you ever find them?"

"I got a line on him again a few weeks after Kimmie was born. I'd tracked Vasily Cherkov from Chicago to Lisbon, Casablanca, Paris, Zurich, Helsinki, Warsaw, and then to Leningrad where he was trying to set himself up as a Merc now that the FSB proved to be not as profitable as his old masters. I…I cut off his head and dumped his remains in the sewer…but not before I beat every name that had any connection to his placement in Chicago out of him. It took me four more years, eliminating both Wesen and human alike, but…I'd finally done it. I'd finally gotten my revenge nearly 14 years in the making and…not until the very end did it ever dawn on me how it had cost me, how it had cost me you. I'd bribed a bush pilot to get me out of Russia and into Finland and just as I opened the door to climb in when it hit me like a Siegbarste's blow. I had absolutely nothing left. My…despite everything I'd done, all the people I killed, my husband was still dead…and I'd managed to drive away the only part of him that I had left to the point that if I showed up on her doorstep, I doubted she'd even see me. And what made it all the worse was that on every level imaginable…I knew that she was justified in that response and…I thought that the only thing I had left to give you to make amends was to…stay out of your life as much as possible."

Anne couldn't…Mom sounded like…Mom seemed to utterly hate herself. And in her youth…God; Anne had…well…she'd said on more than one occasion that she DID hate her. Mom had bullied and threatened and beaten…Anne's adolescence had felt more like boot camp. Mom trained her to the point of exhaustion and then shipped her off to one relative or another for months at a time. That had been the life she'd known…and resented…and was now having to call all of that into question.

"Mom, I…I don't know what to say. I mean…I'd outgrown my hatred of you years ago. But…well…as the years went on, I…I guess I grew to assume that you were happier on your own, that I…I don't know, that I reminded you too much of Daddy."

"Which you do Annie. You ARE so much like him in so many ways. I guess a part of me did stay away because looking at you, hearing you espouse the same kind of talk that he did just reminded me of everything that I hadn't done yet. Annie…please; I…there's so much that I should…that I WANT to apologize for. I…I've been alone for so long. I…please! Please don't keep me away. I…I beg you."

What was Mom…was she serious? Mom got up and knelt down before her daughter. She…she was actually kneeling before her! Mom…Mom didn't lie. No matter what might have happened, no matter what might have happened between the two of them, Mom was…Anne always knew where she stood with her and to date, Mom had never given her reason to doubt that. All of this was genuine, everything Mom had said. Anne had felt…and she'd spent so long thinking…did she dare…oh to Hell with it!

Get up, Mom," Anne reached down and hauled Mom to her feet. "Get up. If it weren't for you, Kim would've…I mean, I guess…despite everything that's happened between us, I…I never stopped…stopped hoping that…things could go back to the way they were before Daddy died. I…I," She was saying it. She was really about to say it, something she'd never expected in nearly thirty years. "I want you to stay for as long as you like. Be as much a part of your grandkids' lives as you want. I…" She let out a breathless chuckle. "I guess you and I aren't done yet."

"I…" Anne couldn't help but savor the embrace she was now sharing with Mom. "I guess I…have to find a ay to get my motorcycle from France."

"'Motorcycle'?" Anne let out a small giggle. Mom…Mom had a motorcycle? "Well…you are SO not taking my children on that thing!"

…DING…DONG…

The two let each other go and Anne's eyes darted to the clock mounted on the wall above the fireplace. They'd been hoe for…oh, a little less than thirteen hours…which was ample time for the Middleton teen rumor mill to get wind of it. So if her instincts were correct, Monique was still in Gettysburg so…that would mean it was either Tara or Ron.

"Who the hell would be here this early?" Anne could see Mom's eyes dart to one of the short swords mounted on the wall.

"Ha…hazards of living with a teenager, Mom. You'll get used to it. I…should probably let you know that Kim…"

"Oh, don't worry; Kim and I talked about it back in my hotel room in Marseilles. I know most of her friends are Wesen."

"Well…not just her friends, Mom. For about the past seven months she'd had a boyfriend who's a…"

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Oh God…what fresh Hell was she going to wake up in the middle of now? Kim was half afraid to even open her eyes for fear of discovering herself in a dungeon or with a knife against her throat. The sun felt warm on her skin and…and she could feel the warm sheets draped around her. She slowly cracked an eyelid. Oh…it…it wasn't a dream. The Oh-Boyz posters, her computer, the antique dresser Aunt Amy had given her two years ago…she…she was…HOME!

So then why did she still feel so afraid? She…she'd done it. She'd overcome the Lynnes and brought Mom and Grandma together. Monique, Ron, Tara…they were all safe…so why did Kim still feel so…

We are a hydra; cut off one head and three more take its place.

Adrianna Lynne's words came crashing down on her like an avalanche of rock. Until now, Kim hadn't thought about…that time and…and she'd said that everyone would…would come to…to purge…Ron. Kim would do whatever it took to protect her friends and…but…but no matter what, they would keep coming. Before all of this had started, Mom had speculated that there may be only a dozen or so Ende der Zeitens left in the world…but what if she was wrong? How…how many were waiting in the shadows, ready to descend on wherever Kim happened to be and whatever Wesen happened to be near? They…the Ende der Zeitens wouldn't stop until…until they eliminated every Wesen that ever got close to Kim, that she dared care about.

That dream she'd had while in the hospital; she still hadn't mentioned it to Mom or Grandma but…in that instant, she knew what it had to mean. This…Middleton was her home but…she wasn't the same person she was when she left…and home wasn't the same either. Ron, Monique, Tara; how…how could she protect…and in that moment as Kim hauled herself out of bed, it dawned on her. If…if she wanted them to be safe, if she wanted the love of her life to be safe, she couldn't…she couldn't have them in her life. She…if she wanted them to be safe, she could never see any of them ever again.

Someone was on the stairs! The pace was fast, a lot faster than Mom or any of the family so…no! Oh please, no! It…it was happening now. This so soon after getting home and that hard and fast up the stairs could only mean…

Kim's eyes shot to the door, open just a crack. Leaping over the bed, she slammed the door and locked it just as she'd guessed Ron had cleared the top. She…she couldn't trust herself with Ron in the room. It was awful and unfair and he didn't deserve it…but she had to do this from behind a door.

"KP? What's with the door? I…I didn't sleep a wink while you were kidnapped and…KP, I can't believe you're home. Could…could you please just let me in?"

"I…I need you to…go away… Ron. I…I don't…I can't…see you anymore. I…I can't see…ANY of you…anymore."

There was a long paus. "Kim, I…what are you…? I don't…I don't…understand. I…I love you."

"I…I…sniff…I can't be with you anymore Ron. It's not safe."

"Kim, what…is this because of…of the Ende der Zeiten? I don't care about that! Whatever she said, whatever she threatened, you and I can do anything so long as we're together!"

"Ron…PLEASE!"

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Kim and…a Mannschafte Falke? That…how the Hell was that going to work? A Grimm and…and a Wesen? That…as far as Barbara was aware, there'd never been a recorded case of a half Grimm and half Wesen child in history, not even rumor of one. Kim…Kim was raised in Middleton, spent virtually every waking moment in one of the most "Wesen" cities in the world so…well…something like this was bound to happen…but actually confirming that…had Kim and this Wesen started…?

I do believe that is none of your business Barbara Annabelle Lager Kessler! Your granddaughter has a boyfriend and that's all you need to know.

Damn it; Patrick always WAS the voice of reason. And…why couldn't her conscience sound like Jiminy Cricket instead of her late husband? If Patrick were really here, he likely would've said exactly that. Kim was in love with…a boy. And…well…of all the Wesen that her granddaughter could've…developed a liking for…in this city, Mannschafte Falke were fiercely loyal, strong, and supportive. And Anne had said the pair had grown up together.

"Mom? You still with me?"

Barbara blinked and looked around. She'd frozen at the top of the basement stairs, trapped in her own mind. Feet were thumping up the stairs…darn it; she'd missed seeing him!

"Mom…this isn't going to be a problem…is it?"

"Uh…no; no, not at all; just…I kind of got…blindsided. Is he…is he good to her?"

"Are you kidding?" Anne cackled. "Little Ronnie Stoppable? He'd treat Kim like a goddess if she'd let him go that far. And Kim…she's always at her happiest when they're together. They're perfect for each other."

Well good for Kim. It was actually incredibly sweet that her granddaughter's "Prince Charming" proved to be her childhood friend. And she'd missed it…but from her on out, she would NEVER miss another milestone in any of her grandchildren's lives.

"Here," Anne pulled her to the kitchen and motioned to a stool. "How about some coffee; maple creamer and a pinch of cinnamon?"

"You…how did…after all these years, you remembered how I like my coffee?"

"I…I kind of…" Anne's cheeks suddenly blushed. "It's…the way I like…my coffee too."

Mother and daughter shared a good laugh at that. Teenage Anne Kessler had spent unending hours shouting at the top of her lungs that she'd rather die than be anything like her mother…but some things couldn't…and shouldn't be helped.

"Mom, I…I've got something I've been wanting to say for you for a while too," Anne took the stool next to Barbara and became very focused on her coffee. "Whether Daddy died of cancer or…or was killed by a Wesen, I'm sorry too Mom. At the time, I didn't know how hard Daddy's death was on you and…whether or not you and I agreed, I know I could've been less trouble, a LOT less trouble. I don't regret going to Middleton, I never will, but…I'm sorry for…being such a difficult daughter. At the time, I guess you thought you were trying to protect me. It…kind of takes another mother to realize that."

Barbara felt…she felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest. She…they…they were having and honest to God Mother/Daughter moment in Anne's kitchen. Barbara spun the seat and pulled her daughter into a bear hug. "I know this is probably drastically overdue but I am…so very proud of you. I…"

Anne's ears perked up and she held up a hand to silence her. Someone was coming back down the stairs, considerably slower than they'd gone up. Anne's seat was quickly vacated and Barbara leaned over hoping to catch a glimpse of…well, Kim certainly had good taste. He was tall, a messy mop of blonde hair and blue eyes that…looked as if he'd just endured some kind of shock. What…what had happened up there?

"Ron…what's going on?"

The boy looked utterly dumbstruck. "She…I…I don't know…" Without another word, this Ron stumbled past Anne and out the door.

This…Barbara may be the new girl on the scene but…something about this seemed…wrong somehow.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

What was going on here? Kim utterly refuses to even see Ron…and now she won't even take any calls from Monique or Tara. The only time even she or Mom had any contact with her was when she'd elected to go for a run before James got back from his mother's with the boys. She needed to clear her head, she'd said.

"Mom…what's happening here?"

"So something about this DOES seem wrong?" Mom gave her a quizzical look. "It's not just me?" Mom sheathed the dagger she'd been sharpening at the kitchen table. "How much did she know about Ende der Zeitens again, before this whole thing started?"

"Practically nothing," The therapist at the hospital in Brest HAD said that there might be some stress-related issues from Kim's ordeal but…well…being told to expect something was one thing. Actually having it happen was something else entirely. Anne had only just started looking at therapists in the area. "She'd only just found out about them a few days prior to being abducted. She and Amy had unearthed a copy of an old collection of Wesen fables and I filled her in as much as I could that night. I'd have explained more, especially about the Lion's Pride and our heritage and planned to do exactly that, but I had to leave early the next morning for a conference in Philadelphia where I met Sean Renard. Could Adrianna Lynne or one of the others have said something to get under her skin?" Damn it; it was till happening! Those…MONSTERS…were still ruining her daughter's life! Open and shut case or no…damn the rule of law…Anne had an urge to take her kanabo to all three of them and then desecrate the grave of Adrianna Lynne in every way that her imagination could dream up!

"Wait a minute," Mom mentioned. "Wait a minute… 'hydra'. During the fight between Kim and Adrianna Lynne, Lynne…Lynne said something. 'We are a hydra' I think she said, an…an animal that if you kill one head, three more take its place. That…that's got to be it! Adrianna Lynne had to have threatened to reveal Kim's friends and boyfriend to…someone. Kim could kill her but that wouldn't be the end of it."

"Well…'three more take its place' COULD mean more Ende der Zeitens but…I thought they were virtually extinct."

"Oh, they are," Mom confirmed, nodding along. "After getting out of Russia, I made my way to Stockholm, trying to get back to my roots to get over…everything else. Andrew Lynne was definitely the last of them to have any serious knowledge or ambition about resurrecting the Order. From what I've been able to determine, the rest of them keep to themselves and rarely venture outside of their respective countries. There's one in Poland, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, and I'm fairly certain of a few in Spain. Adrianna Lynne either had to be running a bluff or dramatically overestimating her father's resources. And if Kim didn't know much about them in the first place…she probably thinks that she's protecting her friends by pushing them away, the poor girl."

"So…what can we do?"

"Well…her friends won't be any help in this area. Does she know any Kehrseite-Schlich-Kennen…or SOMEONE who could speak to Kim from experience?"

"No Kehrseite-Schlich-Kennen; most of Kim's friends are Wesen. Although…I actually think there might be someone. I'll have to make a call and likely call in a favor with Sean Renard but…I think I've got someone in mind."

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Kim was…unsure…of how she was going to handle going back to school. If…if pushing her friends away was what it took to keep them safe, then so be it. Could…could she keep working for Aunt Amy? She was Laufer and…but that would keep her in contact with Monique and…she had to keep them away! As long as they stayed away, if they didn't associate with her, they'd be okay…or at least she could better protect them from whatever DID try to come near them.

Sweat beaded down her forehead as she rounded the corner and headed up her driveway. It had been a week since Kim had returned and if she was going to face the coming storm, she had to train. Every moment not spent on school would be spent training. Krav Maga, Tai Chi, whatever anyone would, human or Wesen, could teach her, she would learn. She opened the door into the house and…what the…?

"Nick?"

She nearly collided with the familiar form of the dark-haired Portland Oregon detective, Grimm, and more importantly, a close relative by feelings if not blood.

"In the flesh," He smiled and hugged his cousin. "I heard about your hefty dose of life experience. Feel like taking a drive with me so we can talk about it?"

Had…how had she not noticed the extra car parked in the lot? She'd run straight up the driveway and…DAMN IT; she couldn't make mistakes like that! "Uh…okay. Where…where are Mom and…everybody else?"

"That's…kind of a secret. They wanted me to wait for you. You want to change your clothes?"

What she had was fine. She may have missed the car but she could tell something was going on. She'd go with him; it WOULD help to have someone to talk about things that weren't Mom or Grandma…but…she just had to get out of here!

She followed him back to the car she hadn't even noticed and climbed inside. Nick threw the car into reverse and pulled out onto the street. It was about five minutes of shockingly uncomfortable silence before either had the guts to speak.

"So…your Mom said that you've been keeping away from your friends…"

"I KNEW it," Of all the idiotic things Mom could've tried…did NO one else understand it. "Mom dragged you across the country to…

"Now HOLD it right there," Nick barked, flashing her a glare but keeping steady hands on the steering wheel. "Understand something. NO body dragged me here. Kim, you're family and I care about you. When I came into my powers I didn't have one iota the help you did and I want to help you."

"Nick, I…I…I CAN'T let anyone get hurt because of me, not ever!"

"I guess I should consider myself lucky that I didn't find out I was a Grimm until a few years ago. Having to go through what you are right now has to be terrifying. From what your Mom tells me though, it's even worse for you because you're so kind."

"Nick…the Ende der Zeitens almost killed my boyfriend…because I was a Grimm and he was a Wesen. She…she bragged about all of the Wesen she…she tortured and killed while tracking me. They…they…tortured my grandmother…to get to me."

"And you put a stop to it Kim. In my experience, Ende der Zeitens DON'T stop no matter what. And when someone won't stop…I can't believe I'm saying this to a 17 year old…you have to make them. I'm curious; do you know about Reapers?"

Oh what was it going to be now? What fresh Hell was Kim going to have to guard against?

"They were my introduction to the Wesen world. They're a Wesen group whose sole purpose is hunting down and destroying Grimms. And my Aunt Marie, the woman who raised me after my Dad died and my Mom had to go away, was being pursued by one shortly before she died of cancer. From that moment on, they knew there were two Grimms in Portland. After Aunt Marie died, they sent another two after me. And believe me, once they've identified a Grimm, they don't stop. Hässlichen are kind of like that. So to make them stop…I sent the heads of the two that attacked me to their headquarters in Germany."

"You did WHAT?"

"Believe it or not, that was Monroe's idea. But every day of my life, I question what would've happened if any of them had known that Wesen were helping me. Wesen can be just as intolerant as Grimms. But Kim, the point I'm trying to make is that there's a lot of danger out there, especially if you're a Grimm. Do you honestly think that you're the only Grimm who was afraid what they were could put others at risk? My father died because Wesen were trying to kill my mother. What I am nearly…nearly drove Juliet away. She had a curse placed on her, putting her in a coma and completely wiping out any and all memories of me. But do you know how we did it? We did it together. And her love for me prevented me from committing a cold-blooded murder that would've ruined my career and my life. Keeping them away won't make your friends any safer. You keep them close and they will help you. They will MAKE you stronger!"

"So you're saying that they'll be safe?"

"I'm saying it's up to you to MAKE it safe! Being a Grimm is only one part of who you are. Wesen or Human, you can still have friends…and it's up to you to protect them. Besides, you're not alone. From what I've heard about you, people like you far too much to let you go through this alone. You've got your Mom and now your Grandmother…and you know that if you need me, all you have to do is ask. Everyone back at your house means just as much to themselves as they do to you."

If…wait… 'back at the house'? Had…had they only circled the block? But once again, Kim was approaching her own house. Only this time…this time they were all there, in full woge. Ron, with chestnut brown feathers covering his face, stood next to Tara on the porch, her tan fur and buckteeth on full display. Next to her was…Mindy Hoffman? Mindy was…fully woged…in her front yard…for…for her? Sitting on the porch swing was Aunt Amy and Monique, an orange furry arm holding the young Luisant-Pêcheur protectively. And standing in the center of them all were Mom and Grandma. Nick pulled the car back into the driveway and ran around to let her out. Nothing…nothing had changed. They were all staring directly at her.

"I'm sorry Kim but you did too good a job at being our friend," Tara began as Nick led Kim up onto the porch. "We're not going anywhere. You helped me get through my kidnapping and I'm not going to let you go through this alone. None of us are!"

"I can't let my niece out of my sight for two seconds so you're rissig if you think you're getting away from us," Aunt Amy stated proudly as she and Monique stood up.

"Kim, you…you were a friend to me when I had no one," Mindy stood turned to face Kim. "You…you saved my life from that…monster! If it weren't for you and your mother, my mother and I would be…we'd be dead. I…I owe you too much."

She…she owed…? "Mindy, you…you don't owe me anything."

Very slowly, Ron, the only one who hadn't said anything, walked up and took Kim's hand and placed it on his chest. Kim's impulse had been to shy away but…ohhhh; it was happening again. At Ron's touch, she felt like putty. "Kim…feel my heart, listen to it. You're the only one who makes it beat both faster and slower at the same time. The…that night on your porch two weeks ago…was the happiest day of my life. I love you so much, Kimberly Anne Possible, that the thought of ever being apart from you…it's so dark and…and terrifying that I can't bear to imagine it. Without you Kim…I'd be better off if the Ende der Zeiten had killed me."

Oh God; Kim…Kim felt like her knees were going to buckle. This…this was…too much! She could feel each and every tear as they began cascading down her cheek. She…she couldn't…they…she wanted to scream to the heavens. She loved Ronald Stoppable more than the air she breathed! She…she needed him in her life, boyfriend, friend, whatever.

The floodgates shattered. She grabbed the boy she loved and openly wept and sobbed into his shoulder.

"I…sob…I love you so…sob…much, Ron!"

"Shhhhhh," He squeezed her tighter and planted a kiss on Kim's cheek. "I love you too, Kim. I love you so much. I swear to you, no matter what happens, as long as we are together, there's nothing that we can't handle."

Kim…Kim could only cry harder. For the first time in nearly two weeks of utter Hell, Kim Possible felt like…like there was hope that things could be okay again.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

The crisp autumn wind cascaded through the park. It caught what leaves remained on the trees and had Kim and Anne Possible's hair not been in matching ponytails, it would've proven no more resistant. But this was the day. This was the day that Anne had been waiting for, one that…well…it seemed like the whole family needed, especially Kim. The oranges, reds, and browns of a Northern Virginia autumn made Arlington National Cemetery seem like something out of a Walt Whitman poem. The family's first stop had been the Vietnam Memorial. It had been over thirty years but…my God; the memories were still as fresh as if they'd happened yesterday…Daddy, being very quiet, tears flowing down his cheeks, one hand holding Anne's and the other Mom's. From there, the family moved on to Anne's primary reason for going. It had been years since she'd been here but…somewhere in this pantheon of heroes was her father.

"Over here," Mom called from a little farther up.

Anne called to the rest of the family and they moved towards the spot. Anne…gosh, Anne hadn't been here in close to ten years. She and James had been in DC for a conference James had been invited to and…Anne had snuck away from the spouses' tour and…the only place she could think of going had been here, needing some quality time with Daddy. Now…now her family was here, her husband and her children.

"You've got some company, Paddy Boy."

"Ha…Mom, I never did know how Daddy got that nickname. Was it Nanna?"

"Pretty much; your Grandma Kessler was about the most Irish woman I'd ever met and always called your Dad her little Paddy Boy, like the song 'Danny Boy'."

"Is this him, Grandma?" Kim asked.

"Would you like to do the honors, Annie?"

"Hi…Daddy," He was here! It was absolutely ridiculous and any outside observer would think she was nuttier than a pecan pie…but Daddy was here! "I…I know a daughter should probably visit more but…Daddy, these are your grandchildren, Kim, Jim, and Tim. Say hello you three."

There was a chorus of "hi Grandpa" and none of them seemed to know what to do next.

"Was…was Grandpa really a hero, Mom?" Tim asked quietly.

"Oh, he was, sweetie; your Grandpa was MY hero," Anne reached down and pulled Kim close. "This is him, Kimmie:

Here lies Staff Sergeant Patrick Warren Kessler

US Army, 101st Airborne Infantry, 506th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Charlie Company

Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart

"I do not care to die but I pray to God I may never leave my comrades."

-Winfield Scott Hancock

He…he always wanted to be buried next to Jerome Whitting, didn't he, Mom?"

"His platoon mates were like brothers," Mom stepped up and gave her daughter a one armed hug. "James, could you and the kids give us a minute?"

James took the kids ahead to Arlington House to see the changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, leaving Anne alone with her parents. It…it was amazing. She and Mom were…really here together…and there hadn't been a cross or harsh word exchanged between the two of them in nearly a month.

"Your father would be very proud of you Annie."

"You really think so, Mom?"

"Oh, I know so. You know how?" Anne shook her head. "Because I'M so truly proud of you. You…you've become everything we've ever dreamed of in a daughter."

"Mom…I love you!"

"I love you too Annie, from the Earth to the Moon and back again. I will always love you with all my heart."

Author's Notes:

And we finally reached the end. Admittedly, the quote from Winfield Hancock is slightly paraphrased but I think it fits the situation. Hopefully, you all enjoy the interplay between Anne and Barbara. I think it works and plan to include her in later stories.

I'd personally like to dedicate this chapter to my Grandfather, Staff Sergeant Oakley (No Last Name), Easy Company, 383rd Regiment, 96th Infantry at the Battle of Okinawa.