Anne Possible was extremely excited about the trip. Of all the Possible clan, she was the one who absolutely loved anything that included the whole family. Since Ron was all but family anyway, the inclusion of his parents on the ten day long vacation was just icing on the cake for her. It meant the two kids could be together for almost the entire summer, while still being integral parts of their respective families. She might have had motherly fantasies of the two growing up, getting married and bringing her grandchildren but right now she was under no illusions that the two were any more than a high-school couple who felt like they were experiencing the greatest love of their lives. She absolutely adored Ron and hoped the friendship and love that had been built in the decade plus they had been together would blossom into much more.
Yet something inside her wondered if such complete devotion to one young man by her daughter was robbing her of something important. For the last couple years James had been worried about the virtual buffet of boys out there who would be interested in his daughter, who he saw as both a beautiful young woman and as a toddler in pigtails, all at the same time. That threat had never materialized, save for a certain 'blip on the radar' that was now not mentioned in the family circle any more.
Kim was obviously deeply in love with Ron, and it wasn't a rebound from the disaster that came before, it was a recognition of something that had been there for a long time. That's what finally made her comfortable with the depth of the teenager's feelings. It was built on friendship and trust and, if her doctor's observations could be trusted, more than a little bit of chemical compatibility. Physical attraction went far deeper than looks alone and she would be the first to admit that while Ron wasn't unattractive, he was just a little bit plain.
She was proud that Kim had learned to look past that, to see him for what he truly was. He was certainly a better choice than that other boy she spent almost two years crushing over. Josh was the exact opposite of Ron, pretty looks (yes, she had to agree with Kim that he was 'golden' in the looks department) but his personality was just so…bland. The only thing a boy like that was good for was as a sort of trophy, someone who you didn't really feel anything for, you just used them to look good to your peers. When Kim was fifteen, she didn't understand that. To her, the several dates and hanging out time with him had been fun, and that was perfectly all right then. It had been fun for her and she learned something from it, something that was a integral part in the relationship that was still forming with Ron.
The fact the two kids were very physically affectionate didn't bother her. Even if they had been wholly intimate didn't concern her overly much, though her mother's intuition told her they had likely come close but backed off so far. Given her druthers, she'd prefer they wait, especially given her husband's views on the subject, but she respected and trusted her daughter to make good decisions. Even though the threat of pregnancy was greatly reduced, there were other issues, very strong issues that went along with it that she felt would be better dealt with at a later date.
The hugging, kissing and almost constant touching she was just fine with. In fact, when she had awakened at her customary five forty-five and found the two sound asleep, snuggled up on the couch she had to fight down the urge to leap up and shout Ron's victory cry. There was something that was simultaneously sweet about seeing the two of them that way and very sexy at the same time. Since it was Saturday and she didn't expect the Stoppables until seven-thirty she headed back up to the second floor, intent on waking James early.
For the long, two day drive from Colorado to Florida they rented a full-sized van. Even then, with all the luggage (what exactly did Ron pack anyway? He always wore the same thing.) they were shoe-horned fairly tightly into the vehicle. At the very get-go James and Gene took the captain and co-captain seats up front, with the wives in the first bench seat behind them so all four could take turns driving.
As expected, Jim and Tim grabbed the next seat, with the best view out the large side windows of the long-haul vehicle. It was also the best position to harass their sister, who she expected would want the very last seat anyway, hoping to be spared much of the traditional Possible Family travel festivities. It was also the best location for extended periods of snuggling with Ron.
Somehow, it didn't quite work out that way.
Kim had seemed all right when she finally came home the night before. It was still early, just after the rest of the family had supper but she assumed at the time she wanted to be home early enough to pack properly. She was chipper enough as she selected her usual summer clothes, even to the point she seemed eager to get to bed, hoping that it would somehow bring the next day on quicker. At the time it made her heart glad to see Kim so eager to go on a family vacation.
The ride started out quieter than normal. The Stoppables weren't as keen on the idea of singing camp songs and various variations of 99 Bottles, so the ride quickly turned into a running, spirited conversation, with the twins spending much of their time fiddling with some gadget they had started on the night before.
About a hundred miles into the drive Anne finally looked back. Things had been so quiet back there she expected to see Kim and Ron sacked out, snuggled together in the back seat. Instead Kim had her head against the window, staring vacantly out at the landscape. Ron was leaning on the back of Tim's seat, looking extremely sour.
Somehow she tore her eyes away from the sight, telling herself the bond between the two was too strong. It must have been a fight. They had them before, they would again. Normal people sometimes have disagreements. It was only natural.
Wasn't it?
Kim gave up trying to get to Ron after about an hour of driving. She hoped that the light of day would have dulled his anger toward her. Instead, with the exception of a customary kiss hello that morning, he had not even let her touch him. She tried everything she knew, from hooking a finger through his belt loop, touching the small of his back, even putting her hands dangerously high on the top of his leg. She even dared the mockery of her brothers, who instinctively sensed the tension between the two and turned their attention elsewhere.
This isn't what she envisioned for this part of the trip. She assumed Ron would do what he normally did, making his way to the front of the van to join in with the usual singing and other carrying on that usually marked such journeys. She was also looking forward to some light cuddling and comfy napping with him in the back of the van.
Instead, every time she tried to touch him he just shrugged her off, wrapping himself up in a shell of anger.
By the time they stopped for lunch, she was ready to do something about it.
"Come on, Ron" she said as he made to sit down at a table with his parents.
She led him to a two seat table and sat him down, taking the chair across from him for herself. "Look, Ron, I know why you're upset with me and you've got every right to be, but you're going to ruin this trip not only for the two of us but for everybody in both our families if you don't snap out of this."
"What am I supposed to do, change the way I feel, act like none of this matters to me?"
"No, but this isn't you. You've never held a grudge in your life, save for real jerks like Monkey Fist or Gill."
"Kim, I can't get past the fact you lied to me."
"Ron, I didn't lie."
"Then how come I didn't know the truth, the whole truth?"
Kim put her fork down on her tray, all interest in her salad lost for the moment. "Ron, we go into all kind of sitches where all three of us get into danger. I still don't know how Rufus managed to swallow that chip, but he did. I tried the best I could and in the end he came out okay."
"But why didn't you tell me about it?"
"Because you and the fam were in Paris at the time, having a good vacation. If I told you what was going on all you would have done was worry. That wouldn't have done anyone a bit of good."
"But what about when I got back home."
She reached out and put her hands over his, which were still gripping his silverware but hadn't made any move toward his food. "If there's anything I should really be sorry for, it's that. I admit it, I should have told you then, but I didn't. I'm sorry, what more do you want me to say? I learned a lesson again that I should have learned that one Halloween in our Sophomore year.
"Besides, I don't want to spend this whole trip looking out the window at endless interstate. I want to spend that time holding hands, napping snuggled up together, sneaking kisses when our parents and my brothers aren't looking."
"Kim, it's not like you can kiss me and make what I'm feeling go away."
"Ron, you're not listening to me. I don't intend to kiss it like a boo boo. I want to kiss you because I want to kiss you, period. I love you so much and part of that make me want to show it to you that way. I can't do that if you wall me off like this." She rubbed her thumb across the back of his hand. His fingers tightened on hers.
"KP, I want that too. I just don't want there to be any lies between us. Not about something as important as Rufus or anyone else in our family."
Kim looked up and met his eyes, the full weight of the last word he said hitting her. He said family, not families. It may have been just a slip of his tongue, but she somehow knew even if it was it came out because that's what he believed. The three of them, Ron Rufus and Kim, were a family, even without fancy jewelry, nice printed documents and elaborate ceremony to say so.
"Ronnie, I just want you to tell me. I've said I'm sorry, but now I want to know if you can forgive me?"
"Kim…KP, how can I not. I mean, you've done worse to me in the past, though you didn't intend to. It just, well, I've got to work through some hurt when something like this happens." He looked like he might be on the verge of breaking into tears but instead he snickered slightly. The snicker became full-on giggles forcing him to close his eyes to keep from breaking out into laughter.
"What's so funny?" She asked, a little perturbed at him about it.
"KP, think about it. I think I'm thousands of miles away from you, I'm missing you and Rufus like nobody would believe and there you are, not twenty feet away from me and I didn't even know it. Not to mention, who else in the world but us would have the luck that you would be right there, facing the camera with Doof at the very exact moment that picture was taken." He started honestly laughing, making squeaking sounds as he tried keeping it in. She found herself giggling along with him as the utter absurdity of the whole thing sunk in finally.
By the time they recovered Ron noticed his stomach rumbling noticeably. Unfortunately, the rodent in question had already made his way through his food. Kim shot Rufus a baleful glare but the little guy just shrugged before heading back to his pocket.
"Rufus, buddy, you've got to learn to leave some for me."
"Don't worry, baby." Kim stuck her fork down in her salad and held a sizeable chunk of spicy chicken out for Ron to eat. He hungrily nipped the proffered meat, chewing greedily as she had a few bites of the vegetables. They ended up sharing the whole salad that way, Kim making him eat a few of the greens along with the chicken. They finished with Kim dabbing some dressing schmutz from his lips with her napkin.
She leaned over toward him. "First chance we get, we flake on the 'rents and get some us time." She said in a conspiratorial whisper.
"You're on." He replied, leaning closer for a tiny kiss.
Anne felt a great deal better as the left the parking lot a little while later. She hadn't overheard their conversation, but as they climbed back into the van they were once again holding hands, snuggling very close together in their seat, Ron taking the window this time and Kim leaning up against him, putting her head on his shoulder. Maybe they just needed a good meal in them she thought.
By the time they pulled onto the interstate, the twins got started up.
"Oh gross…" one of them said, "…they're kissing!" finished the other.
James and Jean looked back, craning their necks to see their beloved children, both of them giving the 'hairy eyeball' expression. Anne just looked at Gene, who was taking his turn at the wheel. He just had a smug smile that mirrored her own.
Cupping her husband's chin in her hand, she gently turned him back toward the front, giving him a look that said let those two alone.