Later That Night – Kim by the Riverboat Cap'n

Note: KP & Co. were created by God & their respective parents in time frames ranging from the early 1930's (Nana) to the early 1990's (the Tweebs). Their adventures are transcribed across the dimensional barrier by various personnel of the Walt Disney Co. For an explanation of how this is possible, refer to various pre-"Crisis on Infinite Earths" DC Comics comic books.

note the 2nd: There was a small typographical error on part one. This story is intended to take place earlier in the evening, before the Ron story.

And now, on with the show.

Kim spent a few minutes sitting on her steps, trying to process. For someone who can do anything, coming to terms with how things went down tonight was proving to be a challenge. For something that's supposed to feel good, this was really hurting.

"Kim? You want to come in?"

The question brought Kim out of her head and back to reality, but it still startled her. "Huh? Oh. Mom. Hi."

"Hi Kimmie. So, you want to come inside, or do you want to stay on the steps and get that dress dirtier?"

Feeling just dazed enough to be suggestible, at least when the suggestion was coming from someone she knows won't hurt her, Kim gets up, dusts herself off, and goes inside to the kitchen.

"So, why were you sitting on the steps mooning? You aren't that indecisive."

"Things have changed."

"I know. I saw the news. Poor Drew. Maybe some time . . . away will help him sort himself out."

"That'll make one of us."

"Again, not you. What happened tonight?"

"They kidnapped Eric, and Ron & I had to go rescue him . . . "

"Sounds normal so far."

". . . anyway, we get there, get past the ninjas, and find Eric . . ."

"Still no drama."

"If I wasn't being interrupted so much I could get to the drama!"

Mrs. Possible froze, taken aback. But, she eventually said, "Okay, honey. I'm sorry. I'll try not to interrupt again. Go on."

"I'm sorry I got snippy. Anyway, we found Eric, and I ran to him, and . . . and . . ."

"And what?"

"He was a bio-droid!"

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry."

"That's not it. He set a charge off inside himself, and when I came to, Ron and I were tied to these pillars . . . "

"Which you got loose from . . . "

"Hey! You said no interrupting!"

"Sorry, sorry." This was obviously bothering her. "If you want to skip some stuff, you can."

"No, I'm almost there. Anyway, we're tied to these pillars, and I'm beating myself up for falling for a goop sack like Eric, and Ron says I should stop beating myself up, that there are lots of real boys that like me . . .

Mrs. Possible raises an eyebrow, "Boys like Ron?"

sigh "Boys like Ron."

"So . . ."

"So we got loose, shut the Diablos down, and went back to the prom."

"You went to the prom with Ron?"

"Yeah."

"So? Kimmie, that's not that surprising. You've known Ron since you both were four. . . "

"No, mom. I didn't go to the prom with Ron. I went to the prom with Ron."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning it wasn't just a friend thing."

"Are you saying your junior prom was your first date with Ron Stoppable?"

Kim nods. "Yes."

Mrs. Possible starts tittering, covering her mouth to at least try to hide it from her daughter.

Kim, infuriated, asks "Why are you laughing?"

"Be"snort"because your father owes me twenty dollars! Hahahahahhaha!"

"What?"

"He . . . he . . . " inhales "He swore up and down Ron wouldn't make a move until senior year. I love your father to death, but he never was a very good gambler."

"You made a bet about me?" Kim says, stunned but more or less back to normal.

Mrs. Possible is still smiling but calming down. "You're right, you're right. Bad time to bring it up." Exhaling. "So, why is this bothering you?"

"Because I feel the same way he does."

"Kimmie, that normally doesn't bother people."

"Normally, girls can't get their boyfriends killed."

"Oooohhhhh."

"Yeah. When it was . . . the way it was . . . it was different. He was just a part of the team. He had a job to do, and he did it, at least as far as Drakken and the others were concerned . . . "

"What about Lord Fisk, or this Gil person from camp."

"Special cases. They didn't target Ron until they realized who he was, and that was because of him . . ."

"Not because of you."

"Right." Kim's voice lowers, and she starts pacing around the counter. "What happens if Duff Killigan decides he can throw me off by launching a birdie at Ron's stomach? Or if Shego decides to play Freddy Krueger, or . . ."

Mrs. Possible stands up and pulls Kim into an embrace. "Aww, honey. The 'what if?'s are a part of it. You can't care about somebody and not be concerned about their safety. If you can imagine these, think about what must go through Ron's head."

"Through his head . . ." Kim starts to tear up.

"Okay, bad choice of words. I meant imagine what he must have been thinking about on all those missions."

"Oh God."

"Not pretty, is it?"

"So not pretty."

"But it may not matter much. Kimmie, do you think Ron knows what he's doing when he's with you?"

Kim thought for a moment. Despite the whining, despite the jokes, despite how near impossible it is to get him to shut up for five minutes, "I do. He's better than people give him credit for."

"In more ways than one. Has he ever tried to interfere in your love life?"

"No."

"Have you been happy with the boys you've dated?"

"Yes." This one didn't take much effort. Josh was a little on the pretentious side, but he was a sweetheart. And if Eric hadn't been a jell-o bot . . .

Who made jokes all the time. Just like Ron.

Who drove a scooter. Just like Ron.

Who could put down Bueno Nacho food like he was coming off of a fast. Just like Ron.

Kim pushed out of her mother's arms. "Oh my God! Eric was Ron! A little more smooth, maybe, but they were exactly the same, except . . ."

"Except for Eric being perfect?" Mrs. Possible interrupted.

Kim didn't notice. "Yeah, too perfect."

"Another thing that's part of it." A small smile bloomed on Mrs. Possible's face. "Your father slurps his coffee. He has since we met, and it's irritated me just as long." Sighs. "But, when he's at a conference, I miss hearing it. I miss it so much I could cry. I have, a few times. Irritating habits have a habit of growing on you. But I think you know that already. Hey, look at that, I made you smile."

Kim was smiling, but had zoned her mother out around the time she sighed. She was thinking of traipsing all over Europe with Ron, looking for leGoop. He'd been so convinced that slime would make him perfect; she just wanted to grab him by the ears and yell

"Screw perfect, I'll take you as is," Kim whispered.

"You say something, sweetie?" Mrs. Possible asked.

"Yeah. I said you were right."

"Hm. Teenage daughter agrees with mother. You CAN do anything."

"Except get over this fear."

"Oh. Well, don't worry about that one. When it's right, that's the only thing that fades."

"'Night, mom."

"G'night Kim."

Simultaneously. "I love you."

"Jinx. Guess I owe you a coke."

"Or twenty dollars."

"Okay, okay, first date's my treat. Now go to bed before I start thinking of other expenses."

"Like what?"

"Well, traditionally, the bride's family pays the cost of the wedding. . . "

"MOOOMMMMM! So not what I'm thinking!"

But as mother and daughter made their way up the stairs, the same words started making their way through their minds.

"Kim Stoppable, Kim Stoppable, Kim Stoppable. .. "