Disclaimer: Don't own KP.

A Note from the Authoress: Okay, okay, I know I'm, like, a week behind in my word count. BUT we are going out of town for Thanksgiving, so that'sa nine hour drive each way for me to write. And last week we had our run of Scapin (which was FABULOUS by the way), and right now I'm in the middle of Singin' in the Rain auditions. (I'm going for Kathy, so wish me luck! If not, I'd like to be the sexy dancer girl ;)). I'll try to get back on track soon, promise.

swiglo3000: You have no idea. :)
MrDrP: Heehee, glad you're enjoying and there will be more trouble in paradise in this chapter, too. And Kim's job? You'll find out in the end.
Merlin8719: Thank you very much!
surforst: If you thought that was bad, wait till you see what he does here . . .
Harufu: Not saying anything about her job yet:)
kpandron and Evil Chibi Kitten: Glad you're enjoying!

Chapter Seven

Kim sat on Josh's and her bed, her knees drawn to her chest, her arms enfolding them protectively as she stared blindly at the cell phone lying on the rumpled sheets before her. It was childish, she knew, to be acting like this, to stare at her phone, simply the messenger of bad news, as if she could punish the actual perpetrator himself by inflicting pain on the small object. She let out a deep, shuddering sigh, tightening her embrace. The light on the outer display blinked at her, the sign of a new message.

She wouldn't answer it, though.

Not after what Josh had done. Always thinking of his mother first . . . true, she was sick now, but that was no excuse. He'd done it ever since they'd gotten married. 'Mother says' was the beginning of most of their arguments, although they always managed to overcome their feuds. But it was such a strain on their relationship, a sort of distrust that began with a mere caution and grew into something much more. Sometimes, she'd climb into bed beside him, and attempt to put her arms round him, but he'd shove her away, childishly hanging onto the day's earlier argument. It made her feel so used, as if she were second to his mother . . . the person he had to love, and she, the person he chose to love, he'd push aside at the slightest event.

"How's your mom doing?" Kim asked, taking a sip of her soda. Fast food, yes, the feast of those who cannot cook.

"A lot better," Josh answered. He sounded relieved, so much less distraught than earlier. Obviously, something near miraculous had happened. She chugged on the straw again, and when nothing greeted her lips, she shook it, only to receive the same result. She tossed it expertly in the trashcan and began to make her way upstairs.

"That's good," she responded half-heartedly. "Anything else new?" She stopped a moment to retrieve some discarded kitchen rags from the step to take to the wash. "Any news of when you're coming home?"

"Nah," he said, his voice a bit more uninterested than before. "Just going with the flow."

"Well," she asked, her voice showing the disappointment in his feelings. "I miss you." She spoke high and imploring.

"I miss you, too," he said, almost defensively. "How have you been?"

"Same old, same old," she sighed.

"No new jobs?"

"Nope," she said, throwing the rags into the hamper.

"That doesn't sound good," he said gravely.

She shrugged, although he couldn't see her, as she made her way to the bedroom. She quickly set about tidying up the room, fluffing pillows and the like.

"Oh," he said, remembering something.

Kim looked up from her work, sensing that no good could come of a remark made when with his mother. Her eyebrow rose slightly. "Oh?"

"Mother was talking with this very nice doctor, who said there's this sort of implant I guess." He sounded very enthusiastic, and she had a feeling she would not see things the same way. "It's very new, but it would be able to aid and help repair the female reproductive system!" It was so scripted, she would laugh if she weren't so hurt.

"Meaning?" But she knew full well what it meant. Josh's mother saw her as useless because she could not have children, and she was bound and determined to fix it, but Kim wasn't. It would hurt her career, surely, and she did not know how to be a mother. All she wanted, all she needed was Josh.

"Meaning there could be a chance that we could have children!" he enthused, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

She did not respond.

"Isn't that great?" he asked, obviously hurt.

"Josh, dear," she said her tone vaguely harsh. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked innocently.

She sighed. "You know very well . . . we've discussed this. All we need is each other Josh, don't you remember that pact? I don't think I could handle a baby right now, and neither could you."

"But the clock is . . ."

"Ticking, yes, I know, but Josh, this isn't entirely your decision. It's my body, you know." It hurt to talk to him this way, but this was the last thing she needed. They'd made the agreement before, many times, actually, but talk of adoption and surgery always managed to cross his mind.

His voice rose. "But you vowed to me-"

"And you to me," she countered, almost growling.

"You said you loved me!" That was low, probably the most hurtful thing he could have possibly said to her.

"I do!" she whimpered. "But you don't seem to love me."

"Maybe I don't," he said harshly. This argument had escalated much quicker and to a much deadlier result than any of their others. Tears quickly stung her eyes at his childish statement.

The line went dead.

She closed the phone and threw it to the foot of the bed, staring at it dejectedly.

--

The phone rang again, mocking her in its quiet, jovial melody. She grabbed it roughly, throwing it open and slamming it to her own ear. "I hate you, Josh!" she screeched into it, her sobs coming quickly. But the voice on the other end stopped her whimpers and moans instantly.

"Kim?"

"Ron?" she whispered, horrified, having not wanted to let him know her relationship with Josh had come to such.

"Kim, are you all right?" he asked, concerned. His voice held all the tenderness and care Josh's lacked, countering her husband's cruelty and complete disregard for her feelings and opinions.

She sniffled. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied.

"Then what was that about you hating Josh?" He'd caught her, and his tone confirmed it.

"Nothing," she sighed.

He didn't believe her, and beseeched her to explain. After a while, she did so, crying openly, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest, opening herself to him, showing him how weak she could be, how horribly and pitifully weak Josh had made her.

"Oh, Kim," he breathed, unsure of what exactly to say to make anything at all better. "I'll be right over," he decided, instantly scrambling for his jacket and car keys.

"What?" was her confused remark, punctuated by a light sniffle.

"Isn't that what friends do?"

--

About twenty minutes later, Ron arrived at the Mankey household, running up the front walk and immediately ringing the doorbell. He was greeted by an interesting sight: that of familiar green eyes, although now clouded by tears, vibrant red hair, tangled and sticking up in random places, and a set of pajamas one would expect to find on a teenage girl, not a thirty-five year old woman, disheveled and wrinkled.

"KP?" he asked, unsure, now that he was there, of what exactly he was supposed to do. Should he hold her? Kiss her? Assure her everything would be all right? Say Josh was a jerk? A million things were running through his head at once, until he felt that light presence pressed so intimately against him, fresh tears gracing his neck. His arms embraced her gently, gingerly, deftly stroking her hair as he simply whispered "Shh . . ." for it was all he could muster.

Her little hands clasped tightly onto his shoulders, trembling as she finally allowed all her stress and sadness to escape through her quiet sobs, to not feel quite so unworthy, so inadequate as she was held for the first time in a long, long while.

It was true, too. Ron was everything she had ever expected to look for in a man, and, had she known him earlier, she'd have probably ignored him like so many others. But now she knew, she knew that he was the sort of man that deserved love, the sort of man she could see herself with in old age. He was supportive, he was kind, and he was right there, in her arms. "Ron," she breathed, her voice, although shaken, was tender.

"It's okay," he soothed fondly, pulling away from her slightly, setting about fixing her hair. He thought, why would Josh risk something like this? Wouldn't having her be enough? Apparently not. Having a perfect wife wasn't enough for him.

Ron reached up and touched her chin briefly, even more uncertain of himself now. She smiled slightly, rubbing at her eyes and nose, a little embarrassed. "Thanks, Ron," she said. "For coming, I mean." She looked around, as if tears were threatening her once more. "I really don't think I could have handled being alone any longer."

"It's no big," he answered, a goofy grin crossing his face. "Always willing to be with you." She reached up and wrapped her arms round his neck, drawing him close once more, silently guiding his own hands to find their way to her waist. "You can spend the night, if you want," he ventured boldly, his mouth and wits flying before his mind could stop them.

She nuzzled into his shoulder gently. "Thank you, Ron," she murmured. "You're a great friend."

Please review!