A/N: This will be a complete reboot of my original story, After All This Time. I did a rewrite a long time ago, but looking back, I know I could improve on it. I've grown a lot as a writer in the past years, and I want to try my hand at writing something a bit darker and edgier. This story will have some plot elements similar to the original, but much of the plot will be changed. In essence, it will be a new story. I plan on rebooting the sequel Revenge at some point as well. This story will be much darker than the original. I also plan on including songs that I feel go with the tone of specific scenes or chapters. There will be an asterisk (*) to mark where the song should start if one appears in the chapter. I hope you enjoy the story. Please leave a review if you feel like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible. It belongs to Disney and its creators. If it was in the show, I don't own it. Any songs mentioned are the property of their respective owners and artists. I am not doing this for compensation, simply for enjoyment and practice.

Claimer: Krista Ruthie Stoppable is my OC. If you want to use her, please ask.

SONG: "My Eyes" by The Lumineers

After All This Time

Chapter 1

7:52pm, December 11, Middleton, Colorado

"It's a girl!"

A squalling cry rang out at the nurse's pronouncement. Kim Possible-Stoppable breathed heavily, exhausted from the arduous labor. Ron Stoppable had his arm around his wife's shoulder, the other clutching her hand. The nurse gently passed a little pink bundle to the crime fighter, tears of joy pouring down Kim's face as she took her first peek at her baby girl. Ron leaned in close to his girls as Kim rocked their child.

"Hi, little one," Kim said softly, tears choking her voice. "I'm your mom."

"And I'm your dad," Ron added.

"Do we have a name yet?" the doctor asked.

Kim turned to smile at her husband. Ron returned the smile and nodded. She looked back at the sleeping infant.

"Krista Ruthie Stoppable."

XXXXXXXXXX

6:12pm, December 12, Middleton, Colorado

"Kimmie, she's beautiful." Dr. Anne Possible held her first grandchild. "You did great today, honey."

"Thanks, Mom," Kim replied. She fell back on her pillows. "You know, you always hear about it, but nothing prepares you for how tough childbirth is."

Anne laughed. "Don't I know it. But it's worth it."

There was a soft knock at the door, and their attending physician, Dr. Whitman, entered. "How is the Stoppable family doing this evening?"

"Great," Kim replied as she propped herself back up.

"Just here for a quick check-up again, since this little one was a tad early. Eager to take on the world, eh?" Dr. Whitman joked. Anne delicately placed Krista back in the hospital bassinet. Dr. Whitman listened to the baby's heart and lungs, his face scrunched in concentration.

"I hear a little congestion in the lungs, but nothing too serious. That can happen with preemies. We'll just keep an eye on it." Dr. Whitman jot down a few more notes on his clipboard. "I'll leave you to your evening. I'll come check on this little lady in a few hours."

Dr. Whitman left the Possible-Stoppable family, closing the door behind him. He paused outside the door to ensure he had the information he needed, checked his watch, then turned and walked down the hallway.

XXXXXXXXXX

2:53am, December 13, Middleton, Colorado

The door to the hospital room opened slowly. Mission training had made Kim a light sleeper, and she awoke as the nurse approached her bedside.

"Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Stoppable," the nurse said.

Kim sat up and stretched. "No big. How's Krista? Has the congestion cleared?"

The nurse stood wringing her hands, having difficultly making eye contact with the teen hero. "That's actually why the doctor sent me in here. We have some… news."

Kim felt dread bloom in the pit of her stomach. She reached out a hand to shake Ron awake, not taking her eyes off the nurse. "What's wrong? Is she sick?"

"What's going on?" Ron asked, alert at the tone of his wife's voice.

(*)

"I- I'm so sorry, but- Krista went into respiratory distress. Her lungs had collapsed. We tried our best, but… there was nothing we could do."

Time stood frozen as Kim tried to process the words. Distress. Nothing we could do. The nurse continued speaking, but her words sounded garbled, as if Kim were hearing them from underwater.

"Sh-she's dead?" Kim finally whispered.

The nurse bowed her head, her shoulders slumped in defeat, tears running down her face. "I'm so sorry."

Kim stared at the far wall, her hands lax in her lap. "N-no. That's not possible. She was doing better—Dr. Whitman said so just a few hours ago." Kim's body began to tremble. Ron put his hand on his wife's shoulder, tears streaming down his own cheeks.

"Kim?"

Kim shook her head vehemently. "NO! No, she's not gone! She's not!"

Ron pulled Kim into an embrace. "She is, Kim. Our girl is gone."

Sobs erupted from the young crime fighter as she clung to her husband, her soulmate, the father to her child.

"I want to see her. I want to see my baby. Let me see my baby!" Kim demanded, beginning to climb out of the hospital bed. She almost tripped, and Ron had to support her as she walked. The nurse nodded solemnly and led them to a quiet, dimly lit room. Dr. Whitman and two other nurses were silently cleaning up the instruments that had failed to save their daughter's life. No one made eye contact with the couple as they slowly approached the operating table. At the sight of their child, pale and unmoving, Kim cried out and collapsed. She reached out and took her daughter's small, lifeless hand, wincing at how cold it felt. Grief exploded from her heart, and her body wracked with sobs.

It seemed like hours later when Kim felt someone gently trying to pull her away. She looked up to see her husband, eyes puffy and red, looking sadly at her.

"Kim, it's time to leave."

Kim looked back to her baby, her little girl, and weakly shook her head. "I don't want to let her go. I can't."

Ron held back a sob of his own. "We have to, Kim. I'm sorry."

Kim reached out a shaky hand and smoothed back her daughter's blonde hair. She leaned in and gently kissed her forehead.

"I love you, baby girl. I will always love you. We will always love you." Ron helped her to stand, and with one final glance at the child they barely got a chance to know, Kim let him lead her away.