Disclaimers: Kim Possible ownership is still out of my reach. Though Santa did say that he would work on it for me for Christmas. Hey I asked for a red head for years and am now married to one. So you never know.

Ron couldn't wait. He was showered, shaved and dressed in under thirty minutes. He kissed his mother good bye and was out the door headed to Kim's house. On the way he wondered about the future. There were going to be a lot of changes. He knew that the time at the academy was going to be grueling this time. But he knew he needed the training to control the power seething in his body.

He entered the Possible residence as he always did and gave his greetings to the elder Possibles before heading up to Kim's room. He knocked before entering.

"Come on in Ron."

"Hey, KP. I know I am early but, ... Whoa."

Ron gazed at his friend in a towel. Her hair hanging straight down still wet. No matter how many times he saw this he always enjoyed it.

"What? You have seen me like this before."

"Yes, and I have the same response every time. So, you better?"

"Yeah, I don't know why I had the total breakdown. It's not like we haven't faced Monkey Fist before."

"Well this time he put you in a position to choose between two things that you didn't want to lose."

Kim nods and hugs Ron. Her hair smells like strawberries, thinks Ron. Her skin so soft, so tender. He looks at her.

"Um, Kim? Don't you think that you need to finish getting ready?"

"Yeah, but I was so scared today that I might lose you. I just want you to know how important you are to me."

"I know Kim. It is nice to actually hear you say it though."

Kim smiled at her friend, and finishes brushing out her hair. Placing the brush down she looks at him with big eyes and a smile.

"Ron?" she purrs.

"Y-yes?"

"Turn around time," she giggles at his reddened face.

"You suckered me into that one," Ron pouts as he turns around.

"Every time. So what all is planned tonight?"

"Well it is Saturday. So I was thinking number four."

"Dinner at Bueno Nacho followed by hopscotch?"

"No, that is number seven. Number four is Dinner at Bueno Nacho followed by a walk to the movies but I have no idea what is playing."

Kim laughs as she pulls her clothes out of the closet. "They put that type of stuff in the paper."

"Yes, but then I would have to worry about everything else that was going on in the world. And with worrying about you I just don't have that type of time."

Ron smiles at his friends flustered face. His smile is interrupted by a pair of socks flung at the back of his head.

"Done, you can turn around."

"So, can we talk about somethings that went on today?"

"Yeah, we kind of need to."

"So, when do you think we can head to the academy? Not that I am in a hurry, but I am."

"I will have to check. But a week out of school isn't like ditching a couple of periods to save the world."

"Maybe they can do the exchange thing like last time."

"That would work. Something else that I need to talk about. I am going to be expanding the team."

Kim waited for Ron's mouth to close again.

"Why?"

"Planning for the future. Bonnie is going to be joining in a support role."

"BON-BON? Kim, what are you talking about? You two are usually at each others throats."

"We had a nice long talk today. She is not our friend. But she does have some useful skills, that when she is ready she will probably tell you about. Plus, she has a way to help fund the team. Like how to keep us in nacos while in college. Put us through college and not to have to rely on favors to get things. Call it planning ahead."

"Kim, I know Bonnie. She doesn't do anything that does not benefit her. What's the score?"

"She knows that outside of high school all the popularity and power she has gathered will mean nothing. Team Possible is famous. While she won't be a starring member to the public she will get mentioned, just like Wade, and she will milk that. Consider us her security blanket against the real world."

"So to help her we get her help. It is like a mission."

"If it helps to think like that, then yes."

"Got it. So, anything else?"

"Yeah," Kim turns from Ron. "Yori. I don't know how you really feel about her, but I don't have any right to be mean to her or to try to keep you apart. I just don't want you to get hurt. She was so concerned about you while you were gone. She has been nothing but nice. I don't know why I feel like I do to her, but I ..."

"Conflicting emotions?"

"Yeah, it should be so not the drama, but instead it is Shakespeare."

"I know how you feel, KP. Trust me. Been through this SO many times."

Kim looked at Ron; she realized that THIS is how he felt when she went on about other guys, when she ditched him to go on a date. Was this jealousy?

"Friends?" asked Kim.

"Always," responded Ron, holding up his pinky.

Kim entwined hers with his.

"You know what KP? This could really work out."

She nodded as she flopped onto the bed and they waited for the others to arrive for the date.

AUTHOR NOTES: A bit of a let down at the end, BUT there will be more in the continuation. I would like to thank all those that have given me encouragement in this story. For those that may have caught references pertaining to another blond ninja, that will be explored later. A hint at thing to come.

Continued in: By Power Corrupted

Kind of ominous, huh? KEY EERIE MUSIC AND FADE TO BLACK.