Booya! I'm hot! I'm there! I'm the Man! He chanted to himself as the bad dudes loaded into the paddy wagon. Wheoo! Shego's hair is one 440 volt fried mess. Gonna be split-end city for her.

Drakken was spouting off his usual line of BS and it was all he could do to look cool, which, of course, I am, and not go dancing around on his tip toes that the maddest mad scientist had finally remembered his name. And the Ronster had personally back-down, cowed, threatened, intimidated, bullied, and scared him into it.

Booya.

With a grin of triumph, he slammed the sliding door closed and like he'd seen in all the movies and TV shows, he slapped the door with his palm several times. He then turned, his features all lit to face her, knowing that she, and only she, was truly capable of understanding and sharing just what this moment meant.

But she suddenly threw him a look he had never really seen before. A canny, low eyed, kinda secret look with an askew smile to match. This was like, totally strange to him. Before he could even react to it however, she said, "you know Ron, we'd better hurry."

Surprise and confusion washed through him. He looked down at Rufus who was on his shoulder. His friend looked up at him, shrugged, and intoned a Naked Mole Rat version of 'i don't know 'forcing him to look at her and just, well—duh "Hurry where?"

That secret smile lit he face, touching her eyes. "You'll see," was all she said as she REACHED OUT AND GRABBED GENTLY HIM BY THE HAND TO TAKE HIM OFF.

His last four years had been spent in constant fear. It haunted his dreams. It invaded his waking hours. It had on occasions too numerous to count, caused him to scream his throat to the point that his vocal cords had refused to work.

Of course many of those times had been occasions when his boxer rockets or his rocket shoes, or the life raft backpack or any of a number of various devices that he thought he understood he knew how to operate had malfunctioned and he had been flying uncontrollably through walls, windows, villains, and henchmen. Then there was those times involving being chased by various monsters or robots or ninjas or (please don't mention the monkeys)

Regardless, he had never hid the fact that he truly believed that he was basically just your average, normal, guy who was terrified of just about everything from bugs to the little horsey rides outside of the supermarket. It was only his friendship and devotion (and other things that he really didn't want to talk about) to his friend Kim that had made him do so many of the things for which he was known for today.

Unfortunately, things had developed to the point that the things that he didn't want to talk about regarding Kim where things that he really should talk about regarding Kim but he didn't want to talk about those things regarding Kim because he was worried about talking about talking about those things regarding Kim (that made his head hurt).

No he said to himself. Things have finally gotten to the point were my fear cannot be a factor. I have to be a man about this even if I cant be one about anything else. She's going out on a limb for me here. She's defying the Food Chain. She's placing everything she's worked for and set out to accomplish in High School on the line for me. I can't let her down. She says this is what she wants. I know that this is what I want and what I've always wanted even if I couldn't admit it to myself until recently. I will do this for her, for us!

So with his heart pounding so hard that he could hear it between his ears, with his stomach tied so tightly in knots that he was nauseated and his knees knocking together with such ferocity that he was afraid that the legs of his tux pants would look like he was standing in a gale force wind—

He tried to concentrate on the small, clutching hand that lay in his sweaty palm as with a final prayer, he led the way through the doors into the hall.

He saw the heads start to turn. He saw the eyes start to widen. He heard the hush come over the entire hall. The effect was startling, eerie, scary.

He felt her hand suddenly clutch his hard and a sharp intake of breath from her lips.

The whole school stood before him as if formed in stone. Stares he couldn't identify at this distance, looks arching at them from every angle. He couldn't describe it; to be the center of so much attention without knowing which way it was going to go. It was like his sensei, describing about how life was like being poised on a knife blade and how you could fall to either side.

Which side would they fall on?

Then he heard that voice. "It's finally happened. She's dating that loser. Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable are dating!" and he immediately wanted to grit his teeth. But he steeled himself. He would not allow her to get to him.

The entire hall exploded into spontaneous cheers and applause.

He blinked. He blinked again. He blinked a third time.

Huh? Is there someone behind us that I don't see?

But no, they were looking at the two of them and shouting their names! Bonnie was looking absolutely ballistic and if finally stuck him—they really mean it. They approve of us.

Both of them actual took a half step back in reaction, their eyes and mouths open in surprise before closing in embarrassment.

He gave a sideways look to Kim, found her looking at him at the same time in the same manner, saw the same emotions in her eyes, in her face. But he saw her pleading for some kind of sign from him, searching for some kind of comfort for her embarrassment.

He had only one thing to give so he gave her his best, big goofy smile. He felt his heart break when it was all she could do to give him a cringing half-smile back in return.

Their eye contact broke. He immediately dropped his smile, looking far away to his left, embarrassed by the whole thing, frowning as he tried to get the choking sensation out of his throat. As the applause and cheers continue, his eyes roll into the back of his head and he had to blow out a hard breath of nerves. Never in his life has he ever experienced anything like this. He simply did not know how to deal with it.

As his eyes went back to the crowd, he felt Rufus wiggle out of his vest pocket. The next thing he knew, he was shoved in the ankle. What did he do that for? The next thing he knew was that Kim suddenly lunged sideways into him. His head snapped over to look at her, his eyes wide, his whole being startled to find her looking at him, wide eyed and trembling, scared beyond all measure by the sudden, unexpected closeness.

He closed his eyes for just a brief moment, chilled with indescribable feelings by the sensation. Then he opened them and gazed upon her. He saw her close her eyes, saw her swallowing. It looked like she was frightened as she was ducking her head as she did so. In that moment, he knew what he had to do. Okay Ron, now is the time to step to the plate. She needs you to take the lead here. Show her, show all these people, and yourself, what you can do. And with that, he brought up his hand, open palm up, to a position where it would be there for her when she opened her eyes.

Which she did, and she saw. She looked back up at him, right into his eyes, a thankful smile coming back to her lips, her head dipping very low as she held him with her gaze which only deepened the power of her eyes which sent his heart soaring. She reached for his hand. He couldn't help but allow his face to break out into a warm, loving grin.

Suddenly the lighting changed and the music started, and it was a slow dance! His hand was properly on her waist, their outside hands in the proper upraised position, they were slowly turning in time to the music. But somehow, as if in a dream, they found themselves in more than just the center of the dance floor under the mirror ball. It was as if they were in the center of the universe.

They were. And she was his universe and she was the center of his everything. Their eyes were locked together, seeing only each other. Nothing else existed.

We've been friends forever, he thought. After all this time you finally see me, that I've always been here and that I always will be. I've been right there beside you and you never knew and I wasn't strong or brave enough to let you know. But I've known for years. It's you!

And he thought back, over so many years, over all the things he had done, I helped you in your crush on Josh because I cared so much. I was willing to let you go to Eric because I cared. I didn't tell you my feelings because I was afraid of ruining our friendship, which means more to me than life itself. Now—now it's more than that. We both know it

Before he can have another thought, she suddenly pulled herself back, snatching her hands from the dance grip. His eyes were still locked on hers but a startled frown came to his features. What are you doing? his mind plead to her. Her eyes were closed tightly, her head dipped way down and then came immediately back up, her eyes reopening, her feet moving as she reversed the direction of their dance rotation, her hands as if poised for action which she was as she then threw herself forward, dropping her chin over his left shoulder, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him tightly to her, leaning the side of her head in against his cheek.

Ulp was all he could feel as his heart leapt instantly into his throat. Multitudes of feelings and sensations threatened to overwhelm him as he felt her entwine herself around him and what seemed like an attempt to burrow her way into his skin right through their clothing.

He was afraid of his reactions knowing that he had to be turning all kinds of various shades of colors and that certain parts of his body had to be reacting in other ways as well and he was panicked that some or all of those kinds of things might be visible. So he was looking about while trying not to look like he was looking about and just—what do I do now?

In his—whatever he was in, they did a misstep with their footing that brought her hard into him. They re-shifted and started back again in the opposite direction. In the meantime, she shifted her hands so that they weren't wrapped around him; they were just gripping him by the front of his shoulders. With this, he found that he was more comfortable and at last he started to relax. His hands where tight at the small of her back now, holding her close to him. His eyes closed.

He finally allowed himself to let go.

This is real. This is true. I can feel her heart pounding. I can feel her whole body trembling. She is holding me as tightly as she can. She's rubbing her cheek against mine. This isn't friendship any more. Well, it is, but it isn't. It's the ultimate friendship, what everybody says that it's what it's supposed to really, completely, be about. We've reached that point at last. And I know we're going to be shy about it and probably have a hard time talking about it and saying the words. But there can be no doubt what this is anymore. We've finally found each other and Bonnie and her posse can go to hell, I'll never give them a thought again because I know that we will give each other the same backing and support that we always have only tripled. Because now, we know, that we're in love.

Suddenly she stopped them. She lifted her head from his shoulder, pulling her head back past his face, her eyes coming open slowly. She kept her hands on his shoulders; he kept her waist tightly to him. Now that he finally had her, he was not going to let her get a single inch away from him.

As her head came back, he too pulled his, his eyes coming open. For a moment that seemed to last for several turns of the universe, he stared at her with new eyes, seeing her as if for the first time, loosing himself in those huge, bottomless emerald eyes, seeing her as a person who wanted his presence, his attention, his contact, his affection, his love, who wanted him and it was all he could do to control the wonder, and disbelief that had to running rampant across his features, thinking back over the feeling, sensations and thoughts of the last several minutes and knowing—

Then he cocked his head to the side and gave her the most heartfelt smile he had ever placed on his face in his entire life.

He saw her choke up and it was as if his heart broke with love for her when it was all she could do to give him a completely utterly miserable trembling smile. At that moment, he knew what had to be done to make things right.

They slowly came forward, dipping their faces until their foreheads came together. He half closed his eyes, seeing her closing hers completely. She is so beautiful. The most beautiful girl in the world. And I am a very lucky guy to have her. And I will never forget that. Just as I will never let her down as long as I'm alive to do so.

She brought her head up and slightly back before moving it forward and down with a sideways slant as she gently, lightly, lovingly rubbed her forehead against his.

That feels so good. She feels so good. I'm going to have so much to make up to her for. I hope I can do it.

He pulled his head back a little. It was time.

Her eyes came half open. Together their faces started to come up, their heads pulling back. She turned herself to face him squarely, her mouth already coming open, her eyes heavy in anticipation.

Those incredible emerald eyes he thought. He could loose himself in those eyes.

Still moving together now, their heads come forward, their faces come up, his mouth came open, their eyes closed—

He pressed the kiss into her and felt himself loose his entire being to her. It was literally a life changing moment for him, which would only last for several seconds. Because the next thing he knew, was that she was pressing forward into him, opening her mouth wider still. And it was—

There were no words to describe it. All he could say was that for the first time in his life, he felt complete, he felt whole. It was if a part that he hadn't even known was missing had suddenly been found and added to his soul. Nothing had ever felt so right!

And he had the feeling that it would be feeling that way for a very very long time.