Disclaimer:Disney owns Kim Possible. Only the story is mine
Chapter 13: Back in the RonshineRon opened his eyes ever so slightly. 'I can't get used to getting up this early, Kim can do it, so why can't I?' Looking around in the darkness of the pre-dawn morning he felt like he was being observed. Rolling over he flipped on the light.
"Aahhhhh, Shego don't do that."
She sat in his desk chair watching him with the most surprising smile. Getting up she slowly walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving his.
"Good morning Ron. Sleep well?"
"Pretty well Shego. You?"
"About the same. Shall we go watch the sunrise?"
"Sure, but if you will excuse me while I get dressed…"
"Ok, but don't take too long." She got up and headed for the door. As she began to pull it closed he noticed a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I'm beginning to see what she sees in you, too bad, it's something I might have wanted for myself."
Ron sat upright in his bed at that last comment. His eyes became like saucers and his cheeks flamed, so much he thought it had brightened the room a little.
They had enjoyed the sunrise, sitting letting the first rays warm them to the core. Ron jumped every time he had heard Shego shift positions behind him. They had returned to the house to find Drakken reading the morning paper and enjoying a cup of coffee with Ron's father.
The morning had gone quickly as the family had split-up as not to give away the illusion, keeping the rest of the world in the dark as to Ron's return. The look on his mother's face had been one of pure joy and abandonment when he finally removed the mask. It had taken all of Ron's will power to not fall into her arms until he remembered he was still wearing the mask. Her questions he was able to answer, numbered far less than the ones that kept on coming, Ron would look around the room to see Shego shaking with laughter, or was it her true self peeking through, as he was constantly bombarded with new questions. When lunch arrived Ron and Shego made their apologies to his mother. They had to get to the school before the homecoming assembly that afternoon.
Lunch there had been an experience too. They had arrived just as the lunch period bell had sounded. Students hurrying from place to place before entering the cafeteria. He and Shego had spotted Kim headed to her locker just as they entered the faculty room looking for Mr. Barkin.
Ron poked his head in the lounge door, "Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr. Barkin. Is he in here." All eyes turned to the stranger standing in the door.
"No sir, he's in the cafeteria on monitor duty this period." One of the teachers spoke from behind the door.
"Thank you, I'll find him myself.", and Ron was back out the door with Shego in tow headed for the mass of students. Entering the cafeteria he spotted Barkin sitting near the end of the lunch line scowling at the students as they headed for their seats. Mr. Barkin's eyebrows furrowed as Ron and Shego stopped in front of him.
"May I help you two?" he asked.
"Name's Traveller, LL Traveller. Mr. Barkin, may I have a word with you… in private." Ron said motioning to the nearby door. As the pair moved to the hall Shego took a seat and just watched for any sign of trouble.
Barkin had just pushed open the door when he received a surprise, "Been a long time Mr. B." Ron said dropping his accent.
Barkin dropped his clipboard and whirled around going pale. He reached for Ron's shoulders looking hard at the man he didn't recognize. He wanted to say something but the words wouldn't come. Realizing the voice he heard Barkin grabbed him around the shoulders briefly before he remembered his station. Looking around he saw students surprised stares as lowered conversations took over the room. They exited the room and spoke briefly behind the closed door. When they returned Shego could have sworn Barkin was wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. No one saw the approaching teen hero until it was too late.
"Mr. Barkin, who are these people?" Kim had recognized the pair from last night at the hospital.
"Ms. Possible this is Mr. LL Traveller and his associate. They are here for the assembly this afternoon. He used to play football here twenty years ago. He will be addressing the school for inspiration from the alumni." He had a difficult time, but managed to hide a smile slowly forming.
"I saw these two at the hospital on Mrs. Stoppable's floor late last night." Suspicion evident in her tone.
"Well ma'am, I was looking in to the sports therapy center last night and we got lost." Ron gave it his best southern accent. Shego sat there trying not to make eye contact as her body shook from a case of the giggles.
"I see." Kim said beginning to stare at the woman quaking in her chair.
"Ms. Possible is the captain of our championship cheerleading squad." Barkin interjected.
"So then why isn't she in uniform today sir?"
"She has been at a point of turmoil in her personal life with the disappearance of her partner and boyfriend." As Barkin grinned.
Kim blushed just briefly at hearing the administrator state it so casually.
"I see. I was hoping to have the entire squad, their captain included, perform their winning routine for the school after I give my speech. How disappointing. I had heard it was spectacular. The young man that told me about it was ever so proud of it." The twinkle in Ron's eyes almost glowing as he said it.
"What young man?" as Kim whirled, her attention turned to Mr. Traveller.
"I met a young man on a flight to Minnesota last week. What was his name? Oh… Ron something."
"Stoppable?" Kim's eyes lit up like flares.
"Yes that was it, Stoppable. I couldn't get him to quiet down the entire flight. Kept talking about that squad."
Kim's energy seemed to amp up at the mention of Ron. "Where did you see him? Where were you going? Did he say where he was going? How did he look?" The questions kept coming.
Traveller held out his hand to stop her. "Slow down there little missy, come and see me after the assembly and we will discuss it. I was hoping though to convince you to lead your squad on the floor today though."
"Anything… just please don't leave until we get the chance to talk to you sir." The light returned behind those eyes. "I've got to go get changed and talk to the rest of the squad." Kim seemed to bounce out of the cafeteria as she waved goodbye to the trio.
Barkin looked like he would just about have fallen over it a wind had come up.
As the three, Barkin, Shego, and Ron exited the cafeteria, Barkin leaned in close to Ron and whispered, "You know you are going to be in a lot of trouble with her when she finds out, don't you?"
Ron smiled, "Yeah, but the healing from those wounds are well worth the pain."
Mr. Barkin stood at the podium as he spoke to the assembled classes in the auditorium. Announcing the class officers and players of the football team. Ron watched from a seat arranged for him next to Shego right behind the cheerleaders. Tara and Bonnie had recognized him from the previous night and each gave him a little wave. Ron returned their wave with an acknowledging nod of his head.
Mr. Barkin announced Traveller to the group and Ron got up and delivered his inspirational speech to the crowd. The school came to its feet as he finished to a thunderous applause. When he returned to his seat the squad formed up, led by their captain, and performed the promised routine that had won them the state cheerleading championships. When they finished Kim took the seat in front of Ron smiling brightly hoping he could provide details to the disappearance. Little did she know what was in store for her.
As the program neared an end Kim walked up on stage. "Today is a difficult day for us all. One of our most loved friends has been gone missing for weeks. Mr. Traveller has graciously offered to share information with me as to where Ron has gone. He had spoken with Ron a week or so ago. Hopefully we will be able to bring him home before too long. Before we end here today the squad and I would like to show you all this montage put together by Ned in the audio/visual class. A work he calls 'The heart and soul'." Kim slowly turned and watched as the lights lowered and the film began, Bonnie and Tara now flanking her.
The film was of clips from Rons past. Everything from the Mad Dog, to stills Kim had kept secretly of the two of them. The end of the movie was part of the clip he had left for Kim in her locker the day he had left. Ron could hear the sniffs and sobs from the girls in front of him, even some from Shego seated beside him. He could see Kim's head roll over onto Bonnie's shoulder as she wiped at the tears running down her cheeks.
As the film came to a close Shego flipped a switch and the auditorium was thrown into a pitch-black sea. Slowly a green glow rose from the middle of the crowd. The lights slowly rose to reveal Shego sitting next to Traveller in her normal outfit, both hands enveloped in their now familiar green plasma energy. The students became still and hushed. Grinning widely with sparkling eyes, Shego sat there just waiting.
Kim got a sour look on her face as she stepped up to the microphone, "Shego, what are you doing here? Can't you just have one shred of decency and let us pay tribute to our missing friend?" Shego just smiled even wider.
Kim began to notice the surroundings. Shego had appeared next to Traveller. Was Shego intent on keeping her from learning where Ron had disappeared? Kim started to move forward on the stage, but stopped as Shego put her arm around his shoulders.
"Mr. Traveller just stay where you are, and don't panic. I have defeated her in every single fight we've had. Today will be no different." As her face went into mission mode.
"Miss Possible there is nothing to worry about. Everything is fine." As Traveller stood reaching uphe removed Shego's hand from his shoulder. He reached over to Shego taking her hand, he kissed it and smiled, "It's time we end this little charade, what do you think?"
Shego just nodded as the energy surrounding her hands dissipated. Traveller turned back to Kim and the stage and started to undo the buttons on his overcoat slipping it into his empty seat. Next he removed his hat and glasses. Then he removed his hair.
'What? He removed his hair' Kim thought becoming confused.
Traveller bent down like he was having stomach pains, holding his face in his hands. Slowly he stood upright again rubbing his face. Kim nearly fell to her knees, but Bonnie caught her by the elbow.
Bonnie looked stunned, "Kim, it's… it's…" her voice failed her; Tara wasn't having any better luck. She just stood there with her mouth hanging open.
His head hung down, "Sorry I've been gone for so long KP. I've missed you." As he shook out his hair.
Kim stood there not believing he was really there. 'Am I hallucinating? Have I gone completely mad?' Slowly Ron slid out from his row; he took careful steps toward the stage. Steps that echoed through the venue as he climbed onto the stage, only the sound of gasps breaking the silence. "Ron? Is… is it really you?" as she slowly held out a shaking hand. When he approached she quickly drew it back fearful she would scare away the apparition.
Ron got down on one knee before her and took her hands in his. "KP, I'm back. I couldn't stay away from you any longer. I could have stayed away if it was just the pain of my body, but the pain in my heart at seeing the tears in you shed brought me back to you." Gently he pulled her hands closer and kissed them.
Kim looked around the stage. Shego sat in the audience with a sly smile, not moving, but just watching. Off in the doorway she spotted Ron's father standing with her parents. Her mother's face was resting on her fathers shoulder as each was smiling brightly, she just nodded to Kim 'It's really him honey'. Behind the parents an odd sight indeed greeted her, Drakken with a wide smile. Looking straight in front of her she saw him again.
Ron slowly stood, his gaze never leaving hers. The bewildered look in her eyes, everything was just too much for her to take in all at once. Ron did the only thing he could. Leaning in close he whispered in her ear, "Kim, I love you." The fog seemed to clear. He took her gently in his arms and drew her in closer, "I love you."
The world disappeared as she grabbed him around the neck. "Ron… Oh Ron, I love you." she cried. Kim held him in an ever-tightening embrace as her tears flowed.
Ron held her back a bit and looked her in the eyes. "I'm here now, don't worry. Your love showed me the path back to you. For now, just bask in the Ronshine." As he pulled her close, the student body erupted as the two met in a passionate kiss.
AN: Sorry for the wait. I have been having trouble getting this updated. I have been trying to upload everynight since Tuesday. I hope you feel it was worth the wait. I may post an extra chapter on Sunday just so I can get back on the timetable I was trying to keep. Just didn't want you to think I forgot about all the good readers who seem to be enjoying my foray into the universe. Iron Obsidian (I.O.)