Disclaimer: Disney owns Kim Possible. Only the story is mine.

Chapter 15: Of Golden Bands
Kim took his hand and brought it to her lips kissing it gently. "Ron I want to make amends for denying my love for you." Kim started to shake, not just her hands but her shoulders trembled. Ron put his hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her in her now stricken emotional state. Her head sunk back, breaking contact with his eyes as her tears flowed purposefully.

Strength coursed through her when he touched her. Kim found the will to continue. She looked back up through tear filled eyes into his, getting lost in those deep brown portals to his soul. "Ron…" her voice cracked as she grasped tightly to his hands, "What I'm trying to ask is…" she opened her hand to reveal a small golden band. Hope flowed in her voice now, "Ron Stoppable, will you marry me?"

Ron just sat there, his hands trembling in hers, staring at the ring she held in her delicate fingers. A golden ring, without beginning and without end, the perfect symbol of an everlasting love.

'Why is he making me wait like this?' Kim was getting nervous as the seconds ticked by. Ron just sat there not making eye contact, not even moving after she had proposed. 'Please Ron… Say something, anything, the drama is killing me…'

Ron looked up. "Kim I don't want you to take this the wrong way." His brow furrowed, "Are you sure about this? If you are doing this out of pity or some misguided sense of obligation, I'll have to say no."

The hurt look in her eyes was almost more than any human could have tolerated without their sanity. Kim tried to pull away, but Ron held tightly to her hands.

"Just hold on a moment KP, I'm not done yet." He said in that soft and gentle voice.

Her heart began to beat faster and faster. Hope…

Ron looked around quickly, his eyes darting from person to person. He spotted familiar faces watching from just out of earshot. Kim's parents, his parents, the cheer squad, Felix and Monique, all just watching for any reaction. He took a deep breath, 'Back to the issue at hand' "Have you talked about his with your parents? Your father especially." Hastily he added. "For no particular reason."

"Yes I have."

"You do realize that we are still underage and we can't… marry…" his voice wavered, "without their permission?"

Kim nodded once, "Done and done. Daddy and I have discussed this at great length. He would be honored to have you as part of the family."

Ron stood and began pacing slowly, Kim remained sitting, just watching. "If you had asked me this a month ago I would have said no in a minute."

Kim gasped as dread compounded in her mind.

"Before I give you my answer, and yes KP, I do have an answer. Some of this won't be easy for you to hear, but I feel it needs to be said so we can move from here to wherever it is we are going. I want you to see this from my point of view, understand what I have been through. I need to be honest with you, brutally honest."

The blood drained from her face. Kim gulped and simply nodded, 'This isn't good …'

"I think back to all the times you hurt me and I have to wonder why I stayed with you so long. When you first set on crushing over Josh I supported you, even though it hurt. I told you to go for it, follow your heart and just plunge ahead. For my support I got stuck in a closet, where you left me, and missed the whole dance. Then I had to trek through the Amazon and retrieve an orchid to keep you from disappearing," Rons' face began to show the sadness matched by his voice. "And after you were told to stay home and out of harms way, you ran off for another date with Mankey. For my troubles, you were just a head when I found you, in the nick of time. Let's not forget about Halloween. We were all set to go out together for our yearly tradition, and again you ditched me to be with him. I could have lived with the truth, but you never gave me the opportunity. So there I was Trick-or-Treating in half a costume, while you were slobbering over him. I, in turn was captured and in chains for all my trouble. The trouble, was my believing you would never lie to me."

Kim felt a tear threaten to leak from her eyes. She never truly understood the depth of the pain she had caused Ron; after all he was 'just a friend', now she had the result of her shallow and shortsighted ways staring her in the face. And it appeared that she wasn't going to get off with an 'I'm sorry…' this time.

Ron's voice began to hint at the anger hidden just below the surface. "Let's not forget how you jelled over my friend Yori. I told you she was my friend, and you couldn't believe for a second that she was just what I said. Albeit she was truly interested, still you didn't believe me. I have to wonder just what kind of friends we really were. Now then, I have my own talents and skills, but you could never have any of it. When GJ studied the Ron-Factor you just blew it off as though I was absolutely worthless, unworthy of any kind of recognition of what I brought to our missions. And don't think I never found out about your conversations with Wade when I became Zorpox. All you could do was think I was a simpleton, unworthy of even being a decent villain."

Kim felt real terror as he continued his outburst. She began to panic, pleading "Ron…Please… I love you. Please, oh please, don't…"

Ron kept up his pace, his emotions seemed to get the better of him and he began to glow softly. Softly at first but then it got to be a darker glow, from a sky blue it turned to a deep cobalt blue. "You didn't believe in me when I wanted to be the Middleton Mad Dog; you sided with Bonnie trying to keep me off the squad, without even a chance to show what I could do. You found me to be unworthy at every turn, and I let you, because you still mattered to me more than my own self respect."

Kim looked around battling a fight or flight reflex. She squeezed her eyes shut trying desperately to hold back her tears. As Rons voice could still be heard ringing in her ears, she was about to concede defeat when she felt him kneel again in front of her. As she looked back at him the glow seemed to dissipate as the tone of his voice changed yet again.

"All through it though; I could never hold it against you. I knew deep down inside where I belonged and what my role in life was. I knew where I wanted to be." Ron reached out and snared her trembling hands. "I wanted to be with you; needed to be at your side."

His voice returned to the saddened tone as before, "You do know that what you are asking for could be akin to a seat at my deathbed? To see me waste away to nothing before your very eyes?" Ron gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "I never wanted you to have to witness that KP… I don't think that when the time comes you should have had to be burdened with seeing me in that condition."

Kim squeezed his hand back, "Let me be the one to deal with the consequences of that one on my own this time, I have had you to hold me up for so long. Right now I only want… no, I need to hear one thing from you at this moment in time. Everything else is open to debate. We…" she let that emphasis sink in. "We… can deal with what ever lies ahead. For now I'm more concerned with you. I know I haven't done as well by you as I should have. And for that I will have regrets for the rest of my life. I don't know what I can do to prove myself to you, other than give you my heart. Ron, I love you. Allow me to be your wife, please, marry me."

Ron looked down at their entwined hands. A single tear ran down his cheek, Kim relinquished one hand and wiped it away. He took a deep breath, his mouth moved but his voice was so quiet. Kim strained to hear him.

"What Ron? I couldn't hear you." Slightly confused she leaned closer. Kim was so close she could feel his warm breath flowing across her straining ear. Still quiet, but a little louder, she heard him.

"…"

She had endured the painful recounting of their past, her mind swirling with so many thoughts.

Ron looked up, tears streamed down his face; taking his free hand he caressed her cheek. "Kim I will love you with every moment I have left in this life, every beat I have left in my heart is for you. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful and caring woman to share it with. Yes, I will marry you." His voice suddenly went sullen, "That is, if you will still have me?"

"Of course I still want you. I'm sorry for hurting you Ron. You were always so close I just couldn't see what I really needed, what I wanted, you." Kim gently placed the ring on his left ring finger as her own tears became as plentiful as his. She sat upright and screamed at the top of her lungs, "YES! He said yes!" and then launched herself into Ron's arms the newly engaged couple rolled in the grass.

Friends and family gathered closer now waiting for Kim and Ron to break from their deep breathing exercises to congratulate the engaged couple.

Bonnie stood tapping her foot fitfully, 'This might take a while.'

Ron sat quietly in his living room watching TV. Slowly he looked around the room. His father sat in his easy chair reading the newspaper. His mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner. The next sight just seemed more odd by the day. Shego sat at the other end of the couch filing her nails during the commercials between the programs they were watching. Dr. Drakken was trading sections of the paper with Ron's dad, Rufus working as an intermediary.

Today was quieter than usual since the engagement. Kim would be over later after she finished her homework, and then they would continue with the planning for the wedding, which was now only three weeks away. The news media had gotten wind of the impending nuptials and had camped out in town for the first week, now things had settled down as life returned to normal, well as normal as it could ever be again.

Ron had resumed his treatments, at Kim's request. "I want you to do this for me please. I need to have the hope, the desire that you can beat this. I have seen you do some amazing things yourself. Please for me." She had asked and he obliged her. 'Anything for my KP.'

It was after dinner and Ron had retired to his room for a quick nap. 'The therapy can take a lot out of you.' He carefully ran his fingers through his hair, only a few stray strands clung to his fingers. 'Most patients seem to lose all of theirs, maybe I can be the one in a million, and keep just some of it for the wedding.' With a longing in his eyes he looked out the window and spotted Drakken talking to someone on his phone. Drew gave a quick wave and smiled seeing Ron appear in the window, but turned abruptly to continue his conversation. Ron lay down on his bed and was swiftly asleep, dreaming once more of Kim.

Waking from a great dream can be a most unpleasant experience, but not like this. A warm hand stroked his face, tracing the gentle curves of his cheeks, tracing from his brow down to his nose and around his lips to his chin. A soft smile graced his lips as a warm breath flowed over him and tender lips caressed his.

"KP, did I sleep that long?" Slowly he opened his eyes to reveal warm emerald eyes framed in luxurious auburn hair. He heard a muffled chuckle from the doorway. "Shego, you were only supposed to let me sleep for an hour."

The reply came in a semi-sarcastic tone. "But you looked so peaceful there, and I didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep."

"Shego," Kim shot her a cross look. "Ron looks positively handsome just as he is."

"Well, as you say. Now you two better get down there and plan you own wedding before your mothers have everything picked out and there is nothing else to do but live with it."

The couple relented and headed downstairs to resume the planning process. Shego meanwhile headed outside to catch up with Drakken and get filled in on their next move. Silently she stood behind him and listened to his seemingly one-sided conversation.

"Have the two of you learned anything from the sample I sent you. Good, very good, we can secure it and deliver to you in three weeks. I know but it will take time to get all our pieces in place. Is the lab to your liking, I just had the equipment delivered, all to your specifications. I'm glad it's to your liking." He turned to Shego and gave her thumbs up. "No, don't worry we will handle everything on our end. Just make sure you get here when I signal you. We need to do this on a schedule. I know, I will contact you again same time next week just to go over the arrangements and finalize, until then. Goodbye."

Flipping shut his phone, Drakken turned to Shego, surprised by the hard look she was giving him. "What? It's all coming together just like we planned."

"You know if Kimmie finds out about this she will crush both our heads. Fiske better be able to deliver, because we won't get a second chance if this fails."

"We won't fail Shego, When we're done Ron Stoppable will be a completely different person."

The day of the nuptials was upon them. Kim was getting dressed and Ron and Felix were standing in the chapel with Brick and Mr. Barkin, Felix was his best man, and Brick was going to be one of his groomsmen. Looking around the chapel he spotted the ex-villains sitting together, Drakken and Shego, Killigan (attending on a special GJ furlough), and The Seniors. They had chosen to sit on the groom's side not out of disdain for Kim, but rather in acknowledgment of Ron's sacrifice on their behalf. A half sarcastic thought ran through Ron's mind, 'At least with our having two ceremonies, one for each side in their religious traditions, we can help keep the peace.' He saw Drakken get up after his phone rang and watched as he hurried out the door.

Brick clapped him on the back, "Stoppable this is going to be one day for the record books. Getting all these people together on short notice, and getting married before everybody else. Bonnie won't let any of us live this down, ever."

Felix noticed a look of fear in his best buds eyes, "Ron-man, don't even think about bailing on this party." Ron swung around, his eyes going wide. "If I even thought you were I'd go and get Monique. She'd make sure you didn't get three steps from the front door before you got some major smack-down laid on you before she dragged you back."

"Felix, I'm not going anywhere." Ron smiled. "I can't do that to Kim. Run out on her twice, so not going to happen."

Everyone was finishing up preparations and the wedding was to begin shortly when Drakken came back into the hall. He stopped and chatted in a low voice with the small group before he headed for Ron's side. The rest of the party stood and headed out into the late November sun. "Excuse me gentlemen, but could I have a word with the groom." He said. Ron agreed and headed out the door with the converted scientist.

Everyone had taken their seats as Mrs. Possible went to find Ron and get him into starting positions. Looking around the chapel she didn't see him, she checked the minister's office, again no luck. As she went back into the main hall she heard what sounded like the whine of a jet engine followed by a thunderous explosion that shook the wedding party.

At hearing the explosion Kim came running out of the dressing room, a look of concern on her face. Both Monique and Bonnie, her bridesmaids, were in tow holding up the train to her dress. Following the stares of the frightened guests she made her way out the door at the back of the chapel.

The sight she found sent a chill up her spine. Drakken and Shego were lifting an unconscious Ron into a bright yellow jet in V/STOL mode. Killigan and several ninja monkeys were holding the would be rescuers at bay as they backed slowly toward the vehicle. Realizing she recognized the pilot her worst nightmare was now fact. Monkey Fist was at the controls and barking out orders as he prepared to lift off. As Kim got closer Fist opened the small pilot's window.

"Stop where you are Kim Possible. If you come any closer you won't ever see you betrothed again. Don't try and follow us, we will be monitoring you. Once we are safely arrived at our destination we will contact you. Until then do nothing. Heed my warnings or the consequences will be dire indeed." Fist closed the window as the craft quickly rose into the afternoon sky.

A furious Kim strode back into the chapel, "He trusted them, and they betrayed him. He let them back into the civilized world and they betrayed him. I'm going to find him." She whirled to give chase, but her mother stopped her.

"Kimmie you can't. You heard what they said. We can't put Ron in jeopardy by rushing off half cocked." The wisdom in her mother's words blazed through her anger, turning it to fear.

Bonnie and Monique came over to Kim and helped her to a seat. The lost look in her eyes they knew all too well. The same look when Ron left of his own accord. It wasn't of his own volition he disappeared. Now it was by another's hands he was missing, not missing, taken.