Kim Possible and all the characters of the show are owned by the Disney Company. I own this work of fiction.
Thanks to everyone for waiting. Sorry for the delay in an update on this series. I needed to do an "I am" and the "Where" story just came out of nowhere. I also had hit a mental block on this story. Not just a mental block, we are talking the Hoover Dam of all mental blocks. Also my work load has continued to grow, and because of that I got a little behind so I had to put in a lot of extra hours. But back on a lighter schedule now so updates should come at a more normal pace. I really appreciate all of the reviews that have been coming in. Thanks to you all. Now back to the story.
Aftermath of Wannaweep - Chapter 11
Ron was lying in bed just enjoying the quiet of the morning. He knew that he needed to get up because they had been invited to be in the town's heritage parade later in the day, Kim and Ron had promised to act as the Grand Marshall's of the town's parade later that day. He and Kim would have to get their fresh mission clothes out of the bag the Wade had sent. He was about to get out of bed when there was a knock at his door. "Come in" he said.
The beautiful face of Tara showed itself as his door opened. He smiled and said "Tara, what's up?"
Tara slid into his room. "Ron, it's time for all of us to start getting ready, but I can't get Kim to wake up. We talked a little last night till late, and now I can't seem to wake her up."
"Oh, goody, pay back time." Ron said.
"What?" Tara asked.
"The last time I stayed at Kim's after a mission, she played a trick on me to get me up. Now it is payback time." Ron said smiling.
"What are you going to do?" asked Tara.
"Oh, you'll see." He said. "Just make sure the door is open in case I have to run."
Ron and Tara returned to Tara's room. Kim was snuggled down in her covers. Ron smiled and put his fingers to his lips signaling Tara for quiet. Tara giggles quietly wondering what Ron was going to do to Kim.
Ron leaned over Kim and talked like a little boy. "Kimmie, oh Kimmie, guess who?"
Kim moaned a little and said quietly "who's there?" in a voice like a little girl.
"It's me, Ronnie." Ron said.
Kim smiled a big smile and said. "Ronny poo"
Tara had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
"Kimmie" Ron said still talking like a little boy. "Time to get uuuupppp."
"Don't waaaannnnaaaa. Ronny Pooooo." Kim said.
Tara was nearly having fits now and Ron had to signal her to be quiet and to step away from the door. He turned to Tara and whispered. "Tara, I have an idea, but if it works I may need to run, okay?" She nodded and he turned back to Kim. He leaned over again and spoke in a normal voice. "Kim, it's Ron, I just found out something."
"Hmmmm?" Kim moaned questioningly.
Ron bent over again. "I found out the tweebs hacked into your online diary and posted parts on the internet." With that said Ron backed up and started counting down with his fingers. 5…4…3…2..
"WHAT?" Yelled Kim as she literally exploded from the bed.
"Take it easy KP. Nothing happened. I just needed to get you up." Ron said backing up.
Kim glared at Ron then smiled her evil little smile. "Why you little… that was so not funny." She stated as she stepped toward him.
Tara noticed that the expression on Ron's face turned a little nervous and she wondered what was going to happen next.
"Ah, KP, really it was just a joke, a little payback, that's all. We needed to get you up." Ron said as he backed toward the door, thinking it was time to make himself scarce. "Oh, boy, time to leave." He said and turned and ran out the door.
"Ron Stoppable, you come back here!" Kim yelled as she chased him from the room. Tara ran after them laughing all the time.
Kim chased Ron into the kitchen where she cornered him on the other side of the table. "Okay, Kim amp down a little, like I said just a little joke." Ron stammered. Tara was watching with gleeful eyes as Kim's eyes fell on an object on the table, she wrapped her fingers around the handle and picked it up. Ron's eyes got huge. "Whoaaa, amp down, KP. It was just a joke." Tara's eyes got big also as Kim picked up the aluminum frying pan that had been sitting on the table. "She wouldn't" Tara thought.
Tara's grandfather was standing in the front yard talking to the mayor of the town. The mayor had brought a reporter from the town paper in hopes of getting a few pictures and an interview with the two teen heroes before the parade.
Charles Davis the reporter had just loaded his camera with film. "It's going to be an honor to get to interview two famous heroes such as Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. They seem to be most mature, grown up, well behaved young people I have ever seen. They sure don't act like some of the teenagers that I know."
With that said there was the sound from the house of Ron's voice screaming. "Kim, no!" CLANG! "YEEEOOOOUUUCCCHHH" came Ron's voice and the front screen door flew open as Ron Stoppable still in his pajamas, came flying out the door with his hands over his head. Right behind him was Kim Possible still in her pajamas, hot on his heels banging him on the head with a frying pan. Ron got to the bottom of the steps when he realized they had visitors and pulled up and stopped. Kim didn't know he was going to stop took another swing at him expecting him to duck. He didn't duck and the frying pan hit him on the back of the head with a resounded bong. Ron fell face forward on the grass. Kim stood over him and started to say "Ron Stopp…." Kim stopped yelling when she realized that visitors were in the yard, she was in her pajamas and she had just decked Ron in front of them all. Her face quickly turned red as her hair as she squealed a little "Hi" and quickly hid the frying pan behind her back and began to back up.
Tara's grandfather, the mayor and Charles Davis stood there for a moment. Ron on the ground rubbing his head, Kim standing there in her pajamas with the frying pan in her hand trying to hide it behind her and Tara on the porch laughing so hard she had to sit down. The three adults looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing.
Later
Charles had interviewed the two teens after they had changed into their mission clothes and they were eating breakfast. The interview had covered how they had meet, some of their missions and their lives back in Middleton. After Mr. Davis had left Kim went upstairs to talk to Wade and to call her parents. Tara and Ron went for a walk outside. Tara took Ron's arm and held it close as the two of them walked out into one of the fields of hay next to the farm house. "So the two of you had a talk last night." Ron stated. "Can you tell me what that little conversation was about?"
Tara placed her head on Ron's shoulder. "I sorta asked Kim about the kiss the other afternoon. She told me about the mission last summer and what happened."
Ron came to a dead stop and turned to face Tara. "Tara, I wish I could have been the one to tell you."
"No, Ron, it was better for Kim to tell me herself. It is she that I thought I was competing with. I did not want to be responsible for breaking up a lifetime friendship." Tara said. "But, Ron, I want to hear it from you. Are you in love with Kim?"
"Did she tell you the whole story?" he asked.
Tara nodded. "From where the two of you left the ball field that day till the time you two woke up in the hospital and spent all that time there."
Ron nodded, and then said. "Tara, yes in a way I am in love with Kim." Tara's eyes widened at the statement and began to tear. Ron placed his hand on the side of her face. "But, not in the way you are thinking. I love Kim as a partner, friend and someone I owe my life. She is someone who risked her life for me and nearly died because of it. But you, Tara King, I love you with all my heart and soul. You have a special place there that no one has ever filled, even Kim. You are special to me in so many ways." He placed his hand under her chin and lifted so that he could gaze into her eyes. Then he lowered his head and kissed her gently on the lips. She slowly raised her arms and placed them around his neck as his arms went around her waist.
Upstairs in the home, two luminous green eyes stared out of the upstairs window watching the two teens. Tears began to flow as a head full of red hair bowed down and two gloved hands covered a tear soaked face. Kim turned away from the window, "why was she crying?" She wondered. "She had never felt toward Ron like this. Was she crying in happiness that her best friend had found someone to love, or was she crying because he was in love with someone else not her?"
Ron and Tara came walking up to the front porch just as Kim came out of the front screen door. Kim was beaming to the two of them. "Uh… Ron, I think you might want to go wash your face, unless you want to go to the parade as Grand Marshall with lipstick all over your face. Ron's face flamed as he looked at his reflection in the window. He rushed in the door and headed for the bathroom. Kim winked at Tara, who stood waiting for him to return. Kim went up to Tara and gave her a hug. "You are going to sit with us aren't you" Kim asked.
Tara pulled backed with a questioning look. "I am not a part of Team Possible. I really shouldn't."
Kim gave her a little punch on the shoulder. "Tara, one way or the other, whether you like it or not as long as you are with Ron, you will be an honorary member of the Team." Kim's eyes got very serious for the moment. "Tara, you know that being with Ron could put you in danger. Those we stand against will find out about you. They might use you to get to Ron. Are you ready for that?"
For the first time Kim saw fire in Tara's eyes. Tara stood with a straight back and crossed her arms. "I may not be as good as you two in fighting but I am willing to learn, if you will teach me. I don't want to go on any missions, but if there is a chance of those guys coming after me then I need to learn more of how to protect myself."
Kim smiled, "Like I said, welcome as an honorary member of Team Possible."
The day was bright and clear. Kim and Ron were to be the Grand Marshall's of the town's parade. They sat wearing their mission clothes and seated on the back of the rear seat of a convertible. Tara sat between the two of them in the rear seat. The crowds of people happily waved to Ron, Kim and Tara as they rode past in the car. Tara beamed as the car drove slowly down the street. Every once in awhile she would look up a Ron and smile, he would smile back at her and wink. Tara turned once and looked at Kim. Kim glanced down at Tara and patted her on the shoulder. Tara thought to herself. "Kim and Ron are heroes to these people. All the folks here see are two people beating the bad guys. They don't see what I have seen. They don't see Kim and Ron barely able to walk because of bruises or injuries. They don't see the two "brave" young people jump at the slightest loud noise after a particularly rough mission. They have never seen the overwhelming exhaustion and pain that the two teens have shown. They have never seen Kim Possible trembling in emotion because the remembrance of a horrible mission. They have never seen Ron Stoppable nearly breathing his last breath, smiling because he knew his partner was uninjured. They will never know the price her two friends paid to do what they did. They could never be normal teenagers, the standard that they were held to was high, and the standard they held themselves to was higher. Tara could not understand how Kim and Ron stood up under the pressure. She wanted to learn to be there to help. She knew that as her relationship with Ron grew that she would start to feel that pressure and the sorrow that came with it. Tara continued to smile and wave along with her two friends. She knew that from this day forward at least in her mind her life would never be the same."
Back at the farm after the parade
Tara stood with her arms upraised, her feet in a fighting stance. Sweat was rolling down her face and her back. She was wearing a grey tank top and gym shorts. She stood in the center of the barn. The three of them had cleared an area in the center of the barn. Tara's long blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail that swept down her back. She raised one hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead and before she knew it she was on the floor. She lay there for a few seconds, then groaning to herself, she got up off of the floor. Ron stepped over and brushed her off as he helped her up. "OK, ladies, I think that is quite enough for today." Kim stood to the side, and asked "are you okay Tara, I didn't quite mean to hit that hard. But, you need to learn even when the sweat is pouring in your face don't lower your guard. This was just your first lesson. What say we all get cleaned up and see if your folks will let us borrow a car and maybe we came meet some of the other teens around and get something to eat?"
"Sounds good to me Kim. There is a Mexican fast food place downtown I know is real good. You and I can get a salad or something and taco-boy here can get anything he wants." Tara said glancing over at Ron, who smiled and patted his stomach.
"Yeah, I am going into Taco withdrawal. I got to get some tacos soon." Ron said smiling.
Tara giggled "Well, they won't have any Naco's but they have a hot sauce that make Diablo sauce seemed like just mild. Besides the owner's are friends of ours and I am sure that would love to meet the creator of the Naco."
Kim wiped her face of the sweat that was beading there. "All sounds good, let's go get ready."
Downtown
The three teens were walking down the sidewalk toward the place that they were going to eat. Tara had to keep introducing the two teens to people on the street. Ron was getting flustered at meeting so many people. Tara had started to whisper the names of people they were meeting so Ron could greet them.
"Kim, when we get back maybe we can let Tara in on some training." Ron said.
Before Kim could answer Tara whispered " Ron, Post!"
"Okay Tara," Ron whispered back.
"So Kim, what do you think?" Ron continued.
Kim and Tara said together. "Ron, Post!"
Ron turned and extended his hand "Good to meet you Mr. Po.."
CLANG! went the metal street sign post as Ron planted his forehead into it.
"Ouch" said Ron as he released Tara's and Kim's arm to hug the post so he wouldn't fall.
Kim and Tara stood to each side and laugh. "Ron, watch where you are going." They said together, and that got them started laughing again.
"Jinx, you both owe me a soda, but right now I would settle for the ice on my head." Ron said smiling. The two girls burst out laughing again as they both took an arm on each side of Ron and the three of them continued down the street to the restaurant.
Maria's Place
"Tara Dear, of so good to see you." Said a heavy-set Mexican woman as the three teens entered the establishment. "I saw you at the game and in the parade. My, you have come out of the quiet little shell you were in. Where is that young man who thinks he is good enough to take care of Tara King?"
Tara looked over to Ron and reached out for his hand. "Maria, this is Ron. Ron this is Maria." Maria looked a Ron with a baleful eye then broke into a huge grin and gathered Ron into a huge hug. Ron's eye about bulged when she just about crushed his ribs in the hug. Then Maria turned to Kim, "and you must be Tara's other friend Kim, welcome," Kim got the same bone crushing hug and had to catch her breath afterward.
She looked at the three teens. "So little Tara finds herself a famous boyfriend and has a very famous girlfriend. Welcome all, anything you like you just tell Maria. And you Ron, you must tell me of this "Naco" thing you invented." Maria turned and yelled to the kitchen. "Jose, Tara is here with some friends, tell Alberto. You three go right over there and we will be right with you."
The three teens went and sat in a booth. Soon a young man came up to the three. "Hi, Tara, it is good to see you. It is an honor to have your two friends here. What would you like?"
"Alberto, it is good to see you too. This is my boyfriend Ron and this is Kim, my best friend." Tara said. "Kim, Ron, this is Alberto, his folks ran this place."
Kim reached out and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Alberto, I think Tara and I would like the grilled chicken salad and Diet Coke.
"Good to meet you Alberto." Ron said shaking his hand. "I am looking forward to some tacos and the hottest sauce you got with a Coke."
Alberto gave Ron a questioning look then glanced at Tara. "Did you tell him of Dad's special sauce?"
Tara nodded, and then glanced at Ron with a gleeful look. "I know what he has eaten in the past. He might be able to handle it, so let him have it."
Alberto looked back at Ron and raised his eyebrow. "Well, you asked for it." He turned and yelled at the kitchen. "Hey dad, gimmee two grilled chicken salads, a taco plate and some Devil's Own sauce."
The other patrons of the restaurant stopped talking at the mention of the sauce and stared into the corner where the four teens were. Then the whispering starting as all attention was focused on the corner booth.
Soon the meals were delivered with the drinks. Tara and Kim got ready for their salads. Ron's taco plate was placed in front of him and next to the plate was a bowl full of a deep red sauce. There was a spoon in the bowl to help serve the sauce. Alberto placed Ron's Coke next to the plate then placed a large pitcher of water next to it. "Standard practice, Ron. Whoever orders Devil's own sauce gets his drinks free and we place a couple of pitchers of ice water on the table ready. Think you can handle it?"
Ron grinned his goofy grin and spooned a healthy glob of the sauce on his first taco.
"Take it easy there Ron. We don't want to have to call the EMS for you." Alberto said.
Ron just shrugged his shoulders and started to eat the first taco. He hesitated for a minute and then continued to eat another taco with just as much sauce as the first. He sipped his coke as he continued to eat. Kim and Tara had started on their salads as they watched Ron. Alberto stood with his mouth open for a second of so then walked off shaking his head. The other patrons in the place murmured among themselves as Ron continued to eat and drink normally. Kim watched Ron closely as his face got redder and redder. Tara sat looking at him in disbelief. Soon, Ron had finished the entire plate of tacos. He had covered each taco with the special sauce. Maria and Jose came to the table.
"Tara, your friend here is something else. No one has ever eaten that much Devil's Own sauce." Maria said. "He has a strong stomach."
"Now if his brain would catch up with his stomach, he would really be ahead of the game." Kim said with a smile. Tara started to giggle and looked at Ron.
Ron just smiled and didn't say anything. Ron stood and paid for the food. He shook Jose's hand and gave Maria a hug. He then took Kim and Tara each by the arm and led them out of the restaurant. The others patrons stood in applause at his accomplishment.
Out on the street Ron looked both ways as he appeared to be looking something. Kim and Tara wondered what was going on when he walked up to a street vendor selling bottled water from a keg of ice water. "Excuse me, sir, how much for your keg of ice water?" He asked.
"Huh?" said the man. "Son, my day is over. I'm closing shop; if you want that keg of ice water you can have it."
"Thank you" Ron said quietly. Then releasing Kim and Tara's arms he turned and placed himself in front of the keg of ice water. Then with a scream he drove his head into the water and began to gulp. Kim and Tara grabbed him and pulled his head out of the water before he drowned himself.
"Ron, are you trying to kill yourself?" Tara asked.
"No" Ron said hoarsely, "just trying to stop the pain." He then drove his head back under water.
The street vendor watched the going's on with wonder. Tara turned to him. "My friend just ate 5 tacos covered in Jose's Devil's own sauce."
The vendor's eye grew large. "Wow, no wonder he needed the ice. Is he gonna be alright?"
Kim smiled at him as she pulled Ron's head back out of the water. "Yeah, I think so. Maybe next time he will think twice about eating stuff like that." She said.
"So not the drama, KP. Let's head back to Tara's place." Ron said as he stood up. He gave both his friends a hug then presented an arm to each. "Ladies, shall we?"
The three teen headed back to the car. Kim grinned and said "Too bad I have to go home tomorrow. I am gonna miss the fun."
"Kim, what fun are you talking about?" asked Ron.
"Well, Ron, what goes in must come out and I bet that will be an experience." Kim said with a wonderful smile as the three teens walked back up the street.
"AW, man." Said Ron.
Well, folks that's the all for now. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It felt good to get back into this story. I have a good idea of how Ron was feeling at the time. During my college years, some friends and I went out to eat and ordered a Taco pizza. One of the other guys at the table got some jalapeño peppers in a side dish. The young lady I was dating at the time dared me to eat a piece of pizza covered in the peppers. Well, the stupid things we guys will do to impress the girls. I did it. I actually did it twice by eating two pieces of pizza deeply covered in the peppers. They all sat and commented on the colors and shades of red my face was turning. I drank a pitcher of water just to get the feeling back in my mouth. I experienced unique sensations over the next couple of days. I pity poor Ron with what he is about to feel. Please keep reading and reviewing. Lots of ideas on this story coming. Tara is going to train enough to protect herself. All of them will face new challenges.
