Kim Possible and all related characters and indicia are owned by the Disney Corporation. This work of fan fiction is written for pleasure, not profit.

John Steppenwolf: I think it was the original version of Chapter 5 of 'Snowbound' that did it. This story was PG-13 before, and I had no problems with it. Thanks for your concern, though:)

Realmz Jetter: Thanks!

They had bailed on the movie, which bothered Ron not bit, despite his being out the better part of forty dollars. Kim had suggested the move, and Ron had reluctantly agreed, if only because leaving the theater necessitated an end to their snuggling. Oh well. Theater seats weren't optimized for cuddling anyway, and Kim had won him over completely by proposing a trip to the old mill along the Middleton River, where they could have some privacy. As he guided his scooter onto the grounds of the long abandoned mill he wrestled with emotions that were almost out of control, and so intense they were painful. Wild exhilaration would give way to utter dread, which in turn yielded to prurient thoughts, followed by shame, followed by...well, too many emotions to think about, really.

"Who'd have thought you could be painfully curious?" he grumbled quietly.

"What's that?" Kim's voice sounded in his ear and he glanced back at her.

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Just thinking out loud." She smiled and gave him a reassuring squeeze. Wild exhilaration stepped to the front of the line again.

Ron let Kim guide them as they walked around the site. She seemed to be looking for something in particular, but whether it was a place, or a thing, or something else all together, Ron had no idea what it might be. So he contented himself with holding her hand (she had actually taken his hand when they got off the scooter, which had thrilled him to no end) and reacquainting himself with the area. The old mill itself was just a shell, its roof partly fallen in, most of the windows broken out. The once open areas around the building were choked with weeds and even small trees that had grown up in the years since the mill shut down for good. The ruin was a well known, if dangerous, playground for kids, festooned with 'Keep Out' signs that were routinely ignored. Held in even greater esteem was the mill pond. A dam across the river had once provided power to the mill, and was the one thing on the grounds that was still looked after, the lake it created being a popular swimming hole.

It was deserted now, the slight chill of the approaching dusk apparently too much for any swimmer's liking. That was fine with Ron. He found that he was looking forward to some quiet time alone with his friend.

"Ah, there it is!" Kim exclaimed. Ron followed her gaze and nodded in approval. She was taking him to The Chair. Ron didn't know what it actually was, or what it had been used for. What he did know was that everyone referred to the boxy concrete structure as 'the chair' because of its vague resemblance to an easy chair. It was a popular spot among teenagers because it was closed off on three sides, offering shelter from wind and prying eyes, but open to the west, allowing the afternoon sun to warm anyone sitting in it and giving a nice view of the pond as well.

When they were seated Ron turned to Kim and eyed her speculatively.

"Well," he said, "I'm guessing that you didn't bring me to one of Middleton's most popular make-out spots to talk about the weather." Kim blushed brightly. She was awfully cute when she blushed, Ron noted with a smile. It was a smile Kim shyly returned.

"You're right about that," she confirmed, sending a rapturous thrill through him. Then her expression became apologetic. "But before we do, I want to say I'm sorry." Her eyes began to glisten.

"For what?" Ron asked gently.

"For not seeing your good qualities for what they are. For treating you like a pest. For all the times I was mean to you when I should have been nice," her voice was quavering, and tears started to spill down her cheeks. "But mostly," she choked, "I'm sorry I'm so afraid to...to...face how...how I feel about you!" she blurted, beginning to sob.

Afraid. Ron's mind whirled, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. He stared at Kim, who was looking at him with pleading eyes. He had never seen her afraid, ever, and here she was, utterly terrified. And he knew. She had let down ALL of her defenses. He, Ron Stoppable, was now emotionally closer to the essential Kim Possible than any other person had ever been allowed to get. The implications of that act of perfect trust staggered him. And he understood.

"I know exactly how you feel," he said, so softly he wasn't sure she'd hear him. But she did. She blinked her tears away.

"You do?" she whispered, the barest hint of hope in her voice. Ron nodded once, slowly.

"If you accept how you feel it'll change everything. Every aspect of the rest of your entire life, for good or ill. It's like you're standing on a precipice. At the bottom is something either wonderful, or terrible, and the only way to find out which is to jump." Gratitude replaced the pleading, and Ron stared at her in wonder. Kim was a tough, strong, fearless woman. Only rarely did even hints of the scared little girl aspect of her personality show through that exterior, and now he had been allowed to see all of it, all of the frightened child who was asking for help to take the final plunge.

Ron took Kim's hand and squeezed it. His expression must have warned her that he was about to do something crazy, because she drew back and tensed up a bit. She might even have guessed what it was, as fresh rivers of tears began pouring from her eyes.

'Time for the Fool to do what he does best,' Ron exalted. 'Rush in where the Angel fears to tread!' He took a deep breath, and jumped.

"I love you, Kim."

She jerked violently, and a tearing sob escaped her throat.

"I love you, Kim," he repeated, trying to pour all of his own suddenly clear emotions into the words.

Kim bawled like a baby, red faced from lack of breath, tears cascading endlessly from tightly shut eyes. She looked like she was in agony, and Ron was wracked with sympathy pains. He tried again, comfortingly, reassuringly, affirmingly.

"I love you, Kim."

The sobs eased a bit, and Kim opened her eyes. They were red and puffy, and her nose was running, and before Ron could notice any more details her arms were around him in a crushing embrace and fresh storms of weeping were tearing through her. He held her, gently, letting the tears run their course.

They stopped, and there was silence. Ron heard and felt Kim sniff, wipe her face and swallow. Then she said it.

"I love you, Ron." The words were heavy with fear and shame and dread. Ron said nothing, did no more than move his head next to hers. It must have been enough. Her death grip eased. Kim inhaled deeply, breathed out slowly. And said it again.

"I love you, Ron." He heard the relief in her voice, felt the tension melt out of her. She drew back and looked him in the eye. The pain, the fear, all of that was gone. Effervescent excitement had taken it's place. She smiled, delightedly.

"I love you, Ron!" she proclaimed, as if it was the most amazing thing in the whole world. Ron couldn't help but grin.

Kim looked at Ron, her face going playfully serious. "I love you, Ron," was delivered from beneath demurely lowered eyelashes. It was a request Ron understood perfectly, and was perfectly happy to fulfill.

He kissed her.


Kim sighed happily. Overhead, the night sky was speckled with stars, while around them a slight breeze stirred the leaves of the trees. A cricket chirped in the distance, while under everything ran the quiet voice of the river. It was, she decided, a perfect evening, and a perfect end to a perfect day. Even the chill of the night air was perfect. After all, Ron's arms were keeping her warm enough. Kim shifted slightly. She was leaning back against Ron's chest, her head resting on his shoulder while his arms gently circled her midsection. The arms tightened ever so slightly as she moved, relaxing when she stopped. Kim grinned happily. Ron hadn't let go of her once since It had happened. It. That wonderfully cathartic moment when she'd confronted her ultimate fear and, with Ron's help, leapt into the abyss.

'I really shouldn't think of commitment as an abyss,' she chided herself. Commitment. She had been mortally afraid of it, at least on a subconscious level, and now she knew why, could admit why. Commitment meant growing up. Meant admitting that she wouldn't be a teenage superhero forever. It meant accepting that she would be a mother, someday. And ultimately, it meant admitting that she was going to die. That part wasn't a pleasant thing to think about, so she didn't linger on it, but not lingering wasn't the same as denying.

Kim shook herself slightly, decided to change the subject, and looked up at Ron. Ron. Plain, awkward, goofy, fashion-challenged Ron. How he managed to be all of that, and still be the most beautiful man Kim had ever seen was a mystery she was in no hurry to solve. He looked down at her.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"Fine," she assured him. He grinned slightly.

"I thought you might be getting cold," he said.

Kim affected a thoughtful expression, then gave a playful shrug. "Maybe a little," she said, "But I'm sure a kiss would warm me up." Ron's grin widened, and he complied with the suggestion.

Bliss.

They had lingered in The Chair for hours, kissing, talking, and kissing some more. Ron was a wonderful kisser. Good with his hands, too. Kim grinned briefly at the thought before returning to her smooching. Ron hadn't actually done that much feeling, but what there was had been gentle and respectful, unlike Josh's ham fisted gropes.

Kim broke the kiss and lay back, still gazing up at Ron. He looked a little sad, and pouted at her, just a bit. Kim just smiled. "I love you," she mouthed silently. Ron smiled back, then returned to gazing out at the night.

Kim closed her eyes and thought about sex. Sex with Ron. The idea of the two of them naked in the same bed was so strange that it was funny. Thankfully it wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, like it had been the first time she'd considered it. She hadn't really thought about it before It had happened, and even in the few hours since, it had gotten easier to imagine, but it was still going to take time for her to get her head around it. Ron had been a bit disappointed, of course, but he had graciously offered to wait until Kim was ready, even expressing a few qualms of his own. "We need to get comfortable with our new circumstance," he'd observed sagely.

It would happen though. Maybe sooner, maybe later, but it would happen. They would just have to find a place where they could enjoy each other without worrying about being interrupted, and Kim knew it would be wonderful. Maybe not perfect, not the first time out of the gate. They'd have to practice, she was sure. A lot. And learning would definitely be ALL the fun. She giggled.

She opened her eyes and found Ron gazing down at her, a questioning look on his face.

"Just working on getting my head around it," she said archly, giggling again as Ron went scarlet.

"Very funny," he reproved, but he was smiling when he said it.