Chapter 3: The Real Auntie B

Bonnie received a rude awakening, in that someone had dared to disturb her before seven on a Saturday. Tara knew better, which left only one suspect. In all fairness, though, SHE had to know better, as well.

"Wake up, sugarplum. We've got a lot to do today."

Bonnie just barely stifled a growl in her pillow. "Come back when it's noon," she grumbled. "Better yet, don't come back at all."

This, apparently, was not what Auntie wanted to hear, because she opened the curtains, allowing the early morning sunlight to stream in.

Bonnie winced as the warmth washed over her, and she heard a rustling noise that was presumably Tara burrowing deeper under the sheets. Sighing, she opened her eyes and glared at Auntie, who had the nerve to be smiling at her. "WHAT?"

If the tone bothered Auntie, she didn't show it. "We're going to spend the day together, so get up. Or I can just drag you out of bed."

"Fine. Then grab a chair, because I'm not leaving this room a minute before seven."

Auntie smirked. "Let me rephrase that. We're spending the day together, outside. And we start before seven."

Bonnie scowled up at her. "No."

"Yes." Auntie suddenly scooped Bonnie up in her arms and carried her from the room. "I don't know why you're being so grumpy. We're going to have lots of fun!"

"Not before seven we won't!" Bonnie insisted, struggling as much as possible to get down.

"What are you complaining about? It'll probably take you that long just to put your face on. Which is why I got you up early." She set Bonnie down in front of the bathroom and gave her a swat on the rump to get her moving. "Hurry up!"

Bonnie mumbled a reply as she slammed the bathroom door behind her. She didn't think it took her much time to look presentable at all. The fact was, part of the presentation was in making people wait. And while Bonnie had no plans to go all out as far as make-up, Auntie had definitely earned herself a 45-minute wait with that wake-up call.

However, Auntie thwarted that little plan by bursting into bathroom only fifteen minutes later, rolling her eyes as Bonnie shrieked and covered her face. "Oh, get over yourself. It's nothing I haven't seen a million times. And we both know you've got nothing to be embarrassed about, make-up or no."

"Get out!" Bonnie insisted, her face bright red.

"You're just being silly." Auntie grabbed Bonnie's arm and dragged her down the hall, back to the bedroom. "Tara, tell her she looks fine."

Tara raised her head from her pillow, blinking sleepily as she stared at them. "You both look great. Can I go back to sleep now, please?"

"Sure you can, hon. Sleep all you want."

Tara's head instantly dropped back to the pillow.

"See? You look fine."

Bonnie shook her head. "Tara has to say that, she's biased."

Auntie sighed. "Look, you know I'm your harshest critic. If I say you look fine, then you do. Now get changed, we're wasting time here."

"What's the big rush?"

For a moment, Auntie merely looked at her. Then she smiled and patted Bonnie's hair gently. "I just want to spend time with you, Bonnie. Just the two of us, together, for today. Think you can pencil me in?"

Bonnie managed to look only slightly uncomfortable. "What do you want to do?" she asked after a moment.

"Anything you want, so long as we do it together. I'll pay for everything."

Bonnie couldn't help the wicked grin that came across her face. "You're going to regret those words, Auntie."

"I figure you can't want anything I've never wanted. Only difference is, I've got a bit more financial backing. So I can afford to have you go nuts."

"Shego pays well, huh?"

Auntie snorted. "I wish. As it is, I still owe her. All the money I have now is from timely investing."

Bonnie smirked. "You mean cheating through time travel."

Auntie chuckled. "There's no law that says you can't hop into a time machine and pick up a couple years' worth of interest tomorrow. If I was really worried about you, I'd teach you everything I know about time traveling."

"But you're not," Bonnie said quietly.

"No, I'm not. I think you've learned a lot from my being here. And when I'm gone, you'll turn out to be an even better person. Not because of me, but because of who you are today."

"Which is really just an indirect way of taking credit for it, right?"

Auntie grinned at her. "Well, I didn't want to brag too much. Let's just get to that fun I promised you, okay?"

Bonnie smiled hesitantly. "Okay."

Kim Possible was on her way to her latest mission when she got an odd feeling. This was nothing new for her, though. Years of honing her body and mind into what Ron sometimes jokingly called a "one woman wrecking crew" generally made her very aware of virtually everything that took place around her. She was not in the habit of ignoring her hunches, as they had saved her life too many times in the past.

So when her mind began to wander, and somehow landed on Bonnie and her aunt, she frowned thoughtfully.

"Ron," Kim absently, getting her partner's attention. "When we met Bonnie's aunt, what was the first thing that entered your mind?"

"I thought it was weird that the aunt looked more like Bonnie than her own mother did. Then I thought maybe Bonnie was adopted. Then I thought she had an older sister nobody ever talked about."

"Anything else?"

Ron paused. "Yeah. I couldn't believe how nice she was. Like she was Bonnie's evil twin. Well...her good twin, I mean."

Kim smirked. "Anything else?"

"She seemed to like you a whole lot." Ron looked at her uncertainly. "And that makes you suspicious of her?"

"The being nice, no. The looking exactly like Bonnie, a little. It was more the way she claimed Bonnie told her I was a good friend."

Ron nodded. "I thought that sounded rather un-Bonnie-like."

"Because it is. Bonnie might consider me a lot of things, but I don't think that one is anywhere on the list. So why did her aunt think differently?"

"Maybe her aunt heard of you, and Bonnie just said it to make herself look good?"

"I can only think of so many situations where Bonnie would want to be associated with me, and they all involve getting in good with my family, not hers."

"Why all the worry? You think Bonnie's losing it or something?"

"No. I just have a feeling that we should turn around and go back to Middleton."

Ron frowned. "KP, are you sure about this? We don't know anything for sure, and you're ready to bail on a mission, just like that?"

Kim sighed. "I don't KNOW, Ron. I just...it's a feeling that I can't ignore. I feel...well...like Bonnie needs my help. I can't explain it."

"Now I know you're dreaming. Even if Bonnie needed your help, she'd never admit or welcome it. Why don't we focus on people that have actually requested our services?"

"Yeah. Maybe you're right," Kim murmured as she stared out of the window. But deep down, that nagging feeling remained, and Kim knew instinctively that it would only grow stronger if she continued to ignore it for however long the mission took. All she could really do at that point was hope that Bonnie was as self-reliant as she made herself out to be.

By the time they left the third store with an armload of clothes, Bonnie suddenly realized that she was no longer pretending to have fun. There was no denying that Auntie seemed to know the perfect stores and outfits at a glance, and each met Bonnie's rather elusive approval without fail. If the woman wasn't who she claimed to be, then she had to be psychic.

It was hard for Bonnie to think of Auntie as anything but that, though. Aside from the fact that the thought of another Bonnie running around gave her the creeps, Bonnie almost needed to see this woman as an aunt. It was a safe, unassuming label, one that would allow her to look into the somewhat distorted, older mirror that was Auntie's face and not freak out every time. Which wasn't to say that Auntie wasn't pretty, just that she looked so MUCH like Bonnie it was creepy.

Yet it was rapidly becoming less creepy as the day went on. Bonnie was now capable of looking at Auntie, and seeing only Auntie, with almost no trace of herself in the familiar features. It was purely a psychological defense mechanism, and Bonnie knew it, but anything that kept her brain from exploding (a common risk in time travel, or so Auntie claimed) was a welcome technique.

Tara had called, to make sure they hadn't killed each other. Blushing all the while, Bonnie had been forced to admit (aloud) that yes, she was having a great time, and no, she was apparently not going to meet her doom this day. Auntie had the decency to merely smile and otherwise keep her mouth shut, and Bonnie was thankful for that. But then, Auntie hadn't said much of anything all day. She merely stood back and let Bonnie browse, offering her opinion when it was asked for, but otherwise keeping a watchful eye on her 'niece'.

More than once Bonnie had looked up to find Auntie staring directly at her, and while this normally would've bothered her to no end, today it was strangely endearing. She told herself that Auntie was just being watchful and protective, wary of anything that might upset or harm her.

She told herself that Auntie loved her. And it seemed that Bonnie, in turn, loved Auntie in return.

Yet she did not dare give voice to those feelings, for as much as she wanted to trust Auntie, there was still a tiny seed of doubt in her mind. It was what kept her an inch from being completely comfortable around Auntie, and perhaps what would keep her from falling into a very clever trap.

That was what she told herself, anyway.

There was also something else bothering Bonnie: she couldn't shake the feeling that Auntie wasn't being completely honest about the meaning behind this day out. She firmly believed that Auntie wanted to spend

time with her, but that there was another reason beneath that.

So when they stopped for ice cream, Bonnie made up her mind that she wasn't going anywhere else until she knew the truth.

Of course, she waited until after they'd eaten.

"Why did you really want to spend the day with me?"

Auntie looked at her. "I already told you."

"Then what aren't you telling me?" Bonnie countered.

Auntie sighed. "The other reason is...well...this is my last day."

"To do what?"

"To be here."

Bonnie blinked slowly. "You mean...you're leaving?"

Auntie nodded. "I didn't tell you that before, because I didn't want to guilt trip you into spending time with me. I wanted you to come because you wanted to, and no other reason."

"So...you're going to leave? Just like that?" Bonnie asked with an edge to her voice.

"I don't have a choice. My time's run out. I have to go tonight."

"And I'll never see you again."

Auntie blinked, as if she hadn't thought of that. She had, of course. "Sure you will. If you ever need to see me, look in the mirror, hard, and I'll be there. If you ever need to talk to me, just listen to that little voice in your head that keeps you from doing really stupid stuff. And if you ever need to remind yourself that I cared about you, just look at Tara, and remember why she's still with you."

"It won't be the same."

"No, it won't. But you'll live." Auntie reached out to touch Bonnie's shoulder, only to have her hand smacked away.

"Don't! Don't act like you care about me now! If you did, you...you..." Bonnie's expression crumbled. "You wouldn't be leaving me!"

"Oh, sugarplum," Auntie sighed. "Is that what you really think this is about? I went through time to be with you. Hundreds of times, no less. How can you possibly think I don't care about you?"

"You say that, but you don't have any proof!"

"Open the glove compartment."

Without thinking, Bonnie did so, yanking the panel open...and gasping as a small flood of silver lockets poured into her lap.

Auntie looked on with something like pride in her eyes. "One for every time Tara confessed her love for you. Any of you. Think about it. Would you really give up a gift from Brick unless you were completely over him?"

Bonnie knew she wouldn't, and it had nothing to do with how she felt about Brick. She had never loved him, or felt anything other than annoyance or mild amusement toward him. She had only dated him for the sake of increasing her own reputation. Brick was no genius, but he was probably more fond of having Bonnie on his arm than he was of Bonnie herself. If they broke up, he would just move on to another cheerleader, assuming any of them were brave enough to risk Bonnie's wrath.

"I was hoping we could add yours to that pile before I left," Auntie admitted. "Maybe I should leave them behind, so you still can when I'm gone. It's something to work for, and now you know it's possible. Likely, even. All you have to do is tell Tara how much she really means to you. The rest will fall into place by itself. Now, do I still sound like someone who doesn't care what happens to you?"

Bonnie slowly picked up one of the lockets, comparing it to her own. They were exactly the same. She let both fall from her trembling hands, tears streaming down her face. If she had really won Tara's heart so many times, how could she possibly have missed what should have been obvious this time? How could she have even once considered letting Tara go to that dance, going to that game herself, or not taking Auntie's advice?

How much had her stubborn pride nearly cost her?

She felt a hand gently but firmly seizing her chin and turning it, and then Bonnie was staring into Auntie's sympathetic, sad smile.

"I tried to tell you, sugarplum. But we're just a matched set of thick skulls, you and I. And I've only learned the lessons from suffering so much. I'm trying to save you from making my mistakes. Nothing I do here would change my life, but I can still improve yours. That's all I have done since I've been here, even if it doesn't seem like it."

Bonnie sniffled. "Why? What's in it for you?"

"Seeing you happy and healthy. There's no greater reward for me."

"What about the money you saved?"

"You mean the money I just blew on your shopping spree? Or the money I donated to the Space Center? Between those, there's barely any left. Why can't you just accept that maybe I did all of this for you?"

"Because the only person I would ever do that for-"

"Is Tara," Auntie cut in. "I know that. But like I told you, I lost mine. Is it so hard to believe that I'd never want any version of me to suffer the same fate?"

"Yes!" Bonnie blurted out. "Because it sounds exactly like something Kim Possible would do! Which is why you can't be me, and you can't possibly care about me!"

Without warning, Bonnie suddenly found herself yanked bodily into Auntie's lap. Before she could demand an excuse for the rough treatment, however, she noticed the furious look in Auntie's eyes.

"A word of advice, Bonnie. Make that the last time you badmouth Kim. You have no idea how much we both owe her. And before this is over, you'll be regretting every putdown you ever tossed her way. So get used to the taste of humble pie, because you'll be forcing down quite a bit of it very soon. Being compared to Kim is an honor, not an insult. You should be so lucky to be mistaken for her."

Bonnie pulled away from her roughly. "I want to go home," she muttered, wiping away what remained of her tears.

Auntie shook her head. "I know that hurts your feelings, and I'm sorry, but-"

Bonnie glared at her. "Take. Me. Home. Now!"

"No. You need to-"

Her face growing red, Bonnie practically shoved open the car door and began to get out. She hadn't gotten far when Auntie grabbed her arm, pulled her back into the car, and across the seat. Before Bonnie knew what was happening, she was locked in a surprisingly strong embrace from behind.

"I said I was sorry," Auntie repeated. "You can get mad if you want. Just so long as you realize that I'm doing this for you, not me."

"Then let me go!" Bonnie shrieked, struggling helplessly.

"Can't do that, sugarplum." Auntie laid her head lightly against Bonnie's. "I love you too much to let you wander off without my guidance."

Bonnie stiffened at once.

"Yeah, you heard me right." Auntie gave Bonnie a gentle squeeze. "I love you, Bonnie. I would never do anything to harm you. Whether you believe it or not, it's true."

"You're just saying that so I won't be mad at you," Bonnie accused.

"No, you're allowed to be mad. What you're not allowed to do is endanger yourself by ignoring what I tell you."

"You can't make me do anything!" Bonnie snapped.

"That's the thing. I can." Auntie sighed wistfully. "I haven't so far, because I know how you like making your own choices. But if you're going to outright defy me like this, then I have to keep you in line somehow."

"What...what are you going to do?" Bonnie whispered, suddenly afraid.

"I have to take away your free will. Sorry, sugarplum, but it's for the best."

Before Bonnie could renew her efforts to escape, she felt three feather-light taps on her cheek. The third tap seemed to set off a signal that ran throughout her body, paralyzing everything but her mouth.

"No! What did you do to me!" Bonnie cried.

"I really am sorry, Bonnie. But if you won't listen to reason, then you'll listen to force." Auntie reached past her and shut the door.

"Where are you taking me!" Bonnie demanded.

"You're going to see me off, that's all," Auntie replied with a sad smile. "I do hope you'll change your mind about me, someday. Maybe things will be clearer in the morning."

"You won't get away with this!" Bonnie swore. "Tara will call the police when I don't come home!"

"That's very likely." Auntie didn't seem too concerned as she started the car. "But it won't matter. They'll never make it in time to stop me."

Next Chapter: Kim rushes back to save Bonnie, but her rescue comes a little too late.

Reviews!

Sand Lord

I repeat myself, maybe there is more between Bonnie and Tara. But the end made me wonder: if the future relative of Rufus comes back to stop future Bonnie doing her thing, doesn't that mean there are some things seriously wrong in their timeline? Nicely done chapter, please update soon!

Not necessarily. From where I sat, The Rufuses were concerned that ANY unnatural activity would disrupt the time stream, not just evil kinds. I think they were even hesitant to approach Kim, for fear that the trip alone might make things even worse. Of course, knowing that Bonita was in Shego's employ would make them even more convinced that she was up to no good and had to be stopped. And since Bonita has been doing this a while, it stands to reason that they're very concerned with any damage she's done or may do.