So I'm back after a long, long hiatus. TBH 2012 was not the best year for me. I had some deaths in my immediate family and some financial trouble but all these negatives have led to a positive. I'm actively trying to pursue my dream of being a writer. So I am working on original stories.

That said unless I've announced the story is abandoned it's not. So unless I god-forbid become incapable of writing I will update this story. I understand it's been a long ass time, and its frustrating surely. But I promise the story will end eventually, and hopefully some of you will still be around.

It was dawn, cool and clear, as Kim helped Ron along the sidewalk towards his house. He leaned onto her shoulder more than he wanted to and Kim was aware of that. So even though it wasn't too much of a problem, she made a conscious effort not to struggle even slightly beneath his weight.

"KP, can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

Ron turned to Kim excitedly and with much drama he said. "Do you think I'll be able to roller skate when the pain wears off?"

"I don't see why not."

"That's funny," Ron said wistfully. "I wasn't able to before."

Kim rolled her eyes. "How long were you waiting to use that one?"

"Longer than I am willing to admit Kim."

Ron then glanced up at the sky and drew in some of the crisp air. "I can't believe it's almost morning. When I got invited to your grandma's party I had not expected it to be an all-nighter."

"That happens when you're traveling at the speed of fun."

"Huh?"

Kim averted her gaze. "Sorry that's just a corny saying my dad has."

"Your family has a lot of sayings."

"Yeah, we do. Be honest though did you really have fun?"

"Kim on one hand I experienced a traumatic pain that will follow me to my dreams; on the other hand, I had a good time with you and your family. So the pros outweigh the cons."

Kim eyed him curiously. "You realize that you're expressing a fairly non-cynical philosophy."

"I know, maybe your mom should have checked me for brain damage."

"See I always thought that you'd have to get hit around the…" She first was pointing near the front of her forehead but soon just waved her hand back and forth and continued, "I don't know head area to get brain damage."

"That's naive Kim. Much of a guy's critical thinking skills can be influenced by his bottom half."

Slowly but surely Kim and Ron made their way up the steps leading to the Stoppable's porch. Ron was bracing himself for the final step when he noticed the smile on Kim's face.

"So you're looking real cherry too."

Kim let out a soft sigh. "You know, for whatever reason, it's been awhile since I had fun with my family. I didn't realize that until tonight. I'm kind of glad things turned out this way."

Her eyes quickly darted to and from Ron's bottom half. "Well not exactly this way."

"Yes I guess I'll be spending most of spring break nursing myself."

Ron rewound the last statement in his head. "Sorry I didn't realize how "Ew," that sounded until it came out my mouth."

Kim chuckled softly. "It's OK"

"Anyway you can just drop me off here." Ron said as they stood before the front door. "I should be able to tuck myself in."

"You sure you're going to be OK?"

Ron slipped his arm from Kim's shoulder. He straightened up, made an attempt to shift his weight, but the end result was a massive cringe that enveloped his entire face. He quickly returned to a slanted standing position.

"I...ahm...Pahzateeve" he forced out.

Kim started to speak but after quick study of Ron's face she stopped herself. "OK I guess I'll go. I'll call you."

"KP."

"Yeah?"

"Your family is awesome."

She smiled brightly. "I know."

"Thanks for inviting me over."

It hadn't been what one would call a conscious move. Kim didn't even catch herself until she was already in the process of leaning forward. The sudden realization of what she was doing left her partially frozen in place. At the time however a lightning bug had caught Ron's attention so he missed the scene when Kim drew closer with her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted. He turned his attention back to her to find her face, bug-eyed in surprise, unusually close to his own.

"So KP… whoa-" startled he took a step half step back.

Kim anxiously brushed strands of hair from her face. "So Um... OK... Sayonara."

"Yeah, bye" Ron said visibly confused.

Sayonara? Kim thought to herself as she hit the sidewalk in stride. What was that about?

She asked herself that question well over a dozen times before reaching the Possible's front door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The sudden close up with Kim's face left Ron with moist palms. So he found himself in the odd position of climbing, bowlegged, up the stairs to his room while wiping his hands down his shirt. Ron mused on the strangeness of his life until he came up to the door of his room. There, just around waist level, he found a piece of paper taped to his door.

'Well it's either Han' or a leprechaun."

Ron gently pulled the piece of paper off the door and pushed his way into his room. A quick glance at the construction revealed a work of art. Two stick figures held hands beneath a rainbow and what Ron assumed was a heart shaped sun. The stick figure on the left had mini yellow spikes protruding from his head the stick figure on the left had threads of red running down her head past her shoulders.

Smiling Ron folded the art and slid it into his back pocket.

I mean it's not a terrible idea Han...it's just the wrong idea.

He was seconds away from dropping right into bed and embracing the sandman, when his cell phone vibrated to life. He plucked the phone from his left pocket and glanced at the caller I.D.

It was Jake. Ron put the phone to his ear.

"Ron dude, I've got an opportunity for you. Actually it's for us. But it's right up your alley. Now before I tell you what it is, I want you to promise me that before you panic and say no, you'll really give this some serious consideration. I mean seriously this has serious potential."

"Serious potential?"

"Yes, that's what I just said."

Ron thought about it for a moment before saying. "Ah, why not."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Kim"

Oblivious to her mother's call Kim marched past her parent's room and continued down the hall.

"Kimberly."

Kim spun to face her mother. She blurted out. "I'm not confused!"

Silence reigned as mother and daughter volleyed blinks back and forth.

"Well sweetie, I was not aware that there was something causing you confusion."

Kim shook her head. "Actually no, there's nothing to be confused about. Which is why I am certainly not confused."

"Fair enough, I suppose," Anne's words trailed off into an awkward pause. "So did Ronald get home ok?"

"He got home just fine." Kim said quickly. "I mean he was politely pretending that he wasn't in a decent amount of pain but he was in a good mood when I left him."

"Good, I hope you thanked him for coming over."

Kim nodded. "Hey do you think Nana was disappointed with how the party turned out?"

As if on cue Nana appeared at the head of the stairs. "Actually it turned out better than I expected."

"Really?"

"Oh yes, there was music, dancing, and danger. It reminded me of my time in Paris where I had a run in with a thief by the name of Jean Pierre Gestat. He was a dangerous man, overtly sensual; if I had not been married to your grandfather that might have been a problematic time in my life. Now your grandfather was the epitome of still waters running deep. Never mind if it were a snowstorm in the Arctic. If your grandfather were around, I would be in no need of a heater."

James Possible's head abruptly popped out of the Possible's bedroom. "Mother...please.."

Kim and Anne snickered in delight.

"Sorry dear, well what are birthdays for if not nostalgia. All in all it brought some excitement back to these old bones."

"I'm glad it turned out so well" Kim chirped happily.

"Well speaking of old bones. I think it's time I get to bed."

"Yes let's get some shut eye."

James' head retreated back into the room and Nana Possible started off in the direction of the guest room.

Before Anne could follow after her husband Kim called after her.

"Mom, can I ask you a quick question."

"Of course."

"What's the line between helping someone and imposing your will on their lives?"

Anne looked at her daughter with a bemused expression; embarrassed a subtle red came to Kim's cheek.

"Never mind mom. That was just um, I don't know."

"Perhaps it's time for you to get some sleep sweetie."

"Yeah, yeah that's probably a good idea."

After laying a peck on her mother's cheek, Kim walked away. However her destination was not yet her own bedroom. In a few moments she was in the Possible kitchen, where two figures, one with a mop, the other a broom, pushed their respective tools across the messy tiled floor.

"How's the cleanup going, tweebs?"

"Not bad" Tim said.

"Yeah, besides the forced labor," Jim continued.

"Well you guys are aware you've brought all this down on yourselves right?"

"Does that mean we can't be angry about it?" Jim asked.

"I don't think we should be punished for our pursuit of science." Tim remarked.

"I don't think science calls for the destruction of our house."

"You don't even live here anymore, besides science is neutral on matters of house destruction."

Kim chuckled to herself. "OK guys, I came here to talk about Cynthia McGannon."

"The Nessie?"

"Yes the Nessie," she said with air quotes. "Can you point me in the direction of the site you found her on?"

"Well we've got her bookmarked obviously. But the real question is what's the deal is?"

Kim drew in a deep breath. "I think I want to contact her."

A/N

This might be the shortest chapter I've ever done on . But I hope its a decent taste of more to come.