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

Chapter 21: End of the Beginning
Kim was wandering from room to room, Ron had been bedridden for three days after he had been released from the hospital, and here it was New Years Eve. She moved from kitchen to family room and out into the living room, then she would begin the cycle again. She had the lost look in her eyes, the same look she wore that morning years ago when her parents dropped her off for her first day of Pre-K. Then she had yet to meet Ron, whom she had become so dependent on for support and comfort.

Anne just watched helplessly as her daughter roamed aimlessly through the house. With Ron in his present condition Kim's mind was a wreck. It pained the elder female of the Possible house; she had to find a way to help her daughter.

"Mom, have you seen my Kimmunicator?"

"Kimmie, can you come in here for a minute?"

Kim entered the living room with her eyes searching everywhere, "What's up mom?"

"Kimmie are you alright? You seem a bit on edge. Is there anything I can do?" Ann patted a seat on the couch, and Kim sat down.

"Mom… I'm scared. I'm scared for Ron, I'm scared for me, and I'm just scared." Tears started to well in her eyes. "I know Ron and I have been married for only like a week, but how am I supposed to go on without him. I have had him at my side for most of my life."

Anne pulled Kim to her shoulder and held her sobbing head against it. "Dear, we all knew this was coming, all we can do is be here for him. We need to be strong for him, just love him, that is all he has ever wanted. Just do that one thing for him."

"I don't know if I can." Kim sobbed. "I know I promised him… but this is so hard. Seeing him in that bed, it hurts so much, I can't see how you do it at work. To see people in various stages of debilitating illnesses, getting closer to the end…" Kim closed her eyes and squeezed her mother harder.

Ann backed away a little and looked Kim in the face. "You need to be strong now. He loves you so much; I don't see how you couldn't tell before that night. Every time I looked in his eyes I saw it. You could feel it in the air when he came into the house. He stood beside you through some serious times, now we all need to stand behind him."

Kim could see the slowly dripping tears from her own mother's face.

Slowly Kim stood from her mother's embrace; she wiped her eyes, and took stock of her emotions. "I need to go check on my husband." And she strode confidently from the living room. As she was about to enter the family room she turned to her mother, silently she mouthed 'Thank You…' and entered the room.

Entering the now darkening room she was horrified, Ron wasn't on the couch. "Ron…Ron!" she began calling as she frantically started her search.

"Over here KP." Came the weary response from the far side of the room. Ron stood at the large windows, watching the lightly falling snow as the day came to an end. "It's alright I finished my dinner and I wanted to watch the snow fall before it got too dark to see anything."

Kim sided up next to him and pulled his arm around her shoulder, taking most of his weight off his fragile looking frame. "I thought you were supposed to stay in bed, doctors orders right?" she said with a mocking tone.

"Oh Kim… Can't I enjoy a few of the things we used to, it's not like I am going to get a lot more chances." His face blanched as his eyes quickly saw Kim's face go sullen. "I'm sorry." He said placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I should have phrased that better, I didn't mean to have it sound that way."

He took Kim by the hand and gestured to the couch. Taking his hand she helped him sit down, settling in to the deep cushions. She held her husband in her gaze as he relaxed back in his seat. She couldn't help but be afraid, his blonde hair had thinned tremendously in the last few days as the stronger drugs took their toll, and his once semi-muscular frame had deteriorated just as fast as he became weaker by the hour. Those eyes, how those eyes sparkled every time he spoke her name, or called her his wife, the warmth radiating from them were more than enough to heat her soul.

Kim wanted to change the subject, just so she wouldn't have to think about the inevitable. "Ron what would you like to wear for the party tonight? I thought maybe the gray slacks with the blue button down, and your brown loafers."

Ron just held her hand, occasionally staring at her rings. "I thought I would like to wear my jersey with the khaki pants and sneakers." He looked at her with his best imitation of her pout. "Please…"

Kim smiled widely, even at her saddest moment he could get her to smile. "I didn't think you would have it any other way." As she pulled him in for a quick kiss.

Ron hung his head sheepishly, "Would you go up to your room and get them, please?"

"Ron you don't have to beg. I was going to go get them. Now you just sit here and relax. I will be back in a couple of minutes."

Ron craned his neck around to watch his wife exit the room, smiling widely. When she was out of sight his face went back to his now normal concerned expression. 'I have to be strong for Kim. I know this is so hard on her. She tries to hide it, but I can see it all too clearly. She is scared out of her mind. I don't know if I can help her this time. I can feel the end in my bones, and it's so very close. I don't even think I can last through the night. As long as I am with Kim when it comes I can help her deal with it. Then it will be time for the hard work…" He let his mind drift like the falling snow outside the windows.

Before too long Kim returned with his change of clothes. Carefully she helped him change and assisted him back to the couch, soon family and friends would be arriving for the little party, and to say goodbye to their friend.

As the clock in the hall chimed eight o'clock Tara was the first to arrive. She and her date, the hated Mankey, had all together too many parties to make an appearance at. Ron stood and turned watching her enter the room, he could see her date cowering in the background as she approached him, Ron may have been weakened, but the powers buried deep in his disease ridden body flared as his eyes flashed blue ever so briefly. Tara knew what happened as she heard Josh trip over his own feet trying to put more distance between himself and Ron, she chuckled quietly.

She walked over to Ron in the dimly lit room and put her arms around his neck. Carefully she checked the reflections in the windows for any sign of Kim. Seeing nothing she kissed him meekly on the cheek. She sat with him, her hands trembling in his, "I'm sorry we can't stay, but there are so many people that invited us out tonight. I wanted to stay, but…"

Ron just shushed her; "There is no need for excuses Tara. I knew when we set this up that you wouldn't be able to stay for long. I'm just surprised that you were the first to show. I figured you would wait till later…" he tried to let the pause lessen the pain, "so that it wouldn't ruin the rest of your night." His eyes tried to hold hers, but she just couldn't look into his with out tearing up. "I know you and I were never meant for the emotional drama. So let's not pretend."

Tara started to cry, and Ron held her hands tighter, "Ron, I never thought we would lose you. I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it, but it keeps on happening. No matter how hard I deny it, it's still there. Tell me Ron; tell me it's all a big mistake. There is nothing wrong and tomorrow this will all be a bad dream that we wake up from." she pleaded.

"Tara… as much as I would like for it to be, it's not. If, as I expect, tomorrow won't come for me, I need all of you to be strong for Kim, this is going to be so hard for her."

Tara realized just how much more than physical his pain was as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Of course we will, I could never disappoint you."

"Tara, just one more thing, a favor I need." A tear ran down his cheek, "I would like for you to sing for me, not now, but at the service, later…"

Tara nodded as her own tears fell.

"I think your date is getting anxious, he keeps peeking around the corner. You better get going." His tears soon matching hers; "We will talk again… someday." Leaning over he kissed her lightly on the cheek as she stood to leave.

Tara hurried from the room leaving Ron to his thoughts. She wanted him to live, but not at the expense of the pain he was feeling.

He sat there in the near dark listening to the subtle commotion all around him. Ron heard the door close as the good-byes were said and Tara was off to her next stop. Before he heard the door shut more voices entered the fray, Bonnie and Felix. Who is that following closely behind, could it be Monique and Brick? He didn't think so, closing his eyes he took a deep breath and composed his thoughts.

He gave a weak smile as Bonnie and Felix came in. Felix rolled over and stopped in front of his stricken friend.

Felix tried to sound upbeat, "So Ron-man, any thoughts on the bowl games tomorrow?"

Ron sounded tired, "No Felix, but, I think somebody will win. I think I will have other commitments to attend to in the morning."

Felix didn't say a word knowing the implications of that statement. "I think I am going to go get some drinks. Do either of you want anything?", asking Bonnie and Ron. Both shook their heads as Felix exited.

Bonnie sat on the footstool in front of Ron and took his hands gingerly in hers. "Ron… I wish there were something I could do. Something to make up for all the pain I caused you."

"Bonnie, all I could ask of you is that you live a good life, one that you can be happy with. You know Bon-bon, I think we could have been good together, if things had been different."

Bonnie felt her eyes begin to water as he spoke… spoke a truth she had thought of, but dismissed all too readily.

"I want you to be happy. I have seen the better side of you, not many have. You should show that more often." Ron got a sly smile as he leaned closer. "I think you and Felix are going to make a great couple."

Bonnie gasped as her face colored, she and Felix had become close after the incident with Gill, but they had been keeping their relationship under wraps. "How? When? I… You knew?"

"I have eyes don't I?" Ron brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. "When we meet again I want to hear all about your children and I don't want you to leave anything out. Got it?"

Bonnie felt like crying, but had insisted to herself that she keep a stiff upper lip for Ron's sake.

"I'm going to find my date." She said getting to her feet. "I will be back to check on you in a while." She turned toward the door and stopped. Slowly she looked back down at her classmate, friend, savior; the look of defeat on his face was more than she could bear. All her emotional barriers broke down as she threw herself down at his feet sobbing.

Ron just reached out and moved her up onto the sofa next to him. Bonnie laid her head in his lap as the tears threatened to wash away all the happiness she found in the past few weeks. Ron simply stroked her hair, speaking in a soothing tone little words of comfort.

Kim peeked in the door after hearing Bonnie crying. She felt bad for Bonnie; she had become one of the stronger forces in her life while Ron was away. She kept the world from overwhelming the day to day life of a teen hero. She had become the friend people had always wished for, but seldom found. Kim entered and quietly paused behind the couch. With a care filled gesture she reached out and touched Bonnies shoulder. "B… Why don't you come with me, Felix is getting lonely without you?"

Bonnie sniffed and sat up with tears still running down her cheek. "Ok…" as Kim helped her up.

As Kim put her arm around her one time rivals shoulder, Bonnie turned to Ron with a sad look in her steel gray eyes, she tried to say it but her voice wouldn't commit to it. But, Ron could read her lips, 'Good-bye and God bless.'