Disclaimers: The usual. Blah, blah, blah.
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Kim was pretty much on the bulls-eye regarding her Dad not liking what he read and saw in the tabloids. Despite his intelligence, he almost believed the story printed, yet Ann Possible was there to calm him down and made him think whether to trust the tabloids or the word of his daughter. Sure enough James Possible believed his daughter and took her word that nothing went on between Ron and her other than kissing, snuggling, and some heavy petting.
The conversation eventually led to the point that Kim was becoming an adult and soon.
She would be eighteen in July with Ron following in August. Both parents, hers more than his, accepted that if Kim and Ron ever decided to have sex, it was up to them.
Ann Possible later had a private talk with her daughter on contraception. Kim had told her Mom that she and Ron had discussed contraception options, and the elder Possible woman was glad to hear it.
Kim was relieved her 'rents were understanding not only of the sitch with the tabloids but also the growing physical intimacy between her and her boyfriend. It was only a matter of time before they went all the way, and she didn't want her parents thinking she was still a little girl.
Ron on the other hand had a little bit harder time trying to convince his mother that the tabloids were blowing his relationship with Kim out of proportion. His father, Donald, was far more considerate, and even he knew that if his son truly, deeply loved his girlfriend and she loved him, nature would take its course sooner or later. Hanna Stoppable eventually gave up, but she still thought her son should save his virtue until marriage.
As far as the young blonde man was concerned, if one day he and Kim decided to engage in making love and they were ready for it, they would do it. He knew it would be something special between them and not just something to experiment out of curiosity.
As for the tabloids' story and the pictures of the two teen world heroes, it had provided some teasing and ribbing from fellow students. Even the late night talk shows on TV joined in for a few days. The worst Kim and Ron had to endure was from Bonnie Rockwaller, who had a field day for a while.
The published photos of Team Possible did gave some initiative for some paparazzi photographers to tail the couple almost anywhere they went, from Bueno Nacho to Middleton Mall. Kim and Ron didn't give these jerks any juicy treats, for they simply held hands while in public and saved their kissing for when they were at their homes or for a quick smooch inside school. Their homes were private residences and the photographers didn't have any rights to enter anyone's private domains. Except for the school's student photographers, no news media photographers were allowed on school grounds without the school's permission.
Eventually, things died down as June came, for Middleton High School was preparing for the finals and the upcoming graduation of the Class of 2005. Even Kim and Ron became so busy that they easily left the tabloids sitch way behind them. They went to their university admissions interview and felt they came out okay despite the interview panel asking about the tabloid story. They both studied hard for the finals and prepared for the moment of truth to arrive – the day they both knew would come.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Middleton High Class of 2005!" the high school principal, a man in his 50's, said at the podium on the stage in graduation dean robes & mortar board. "Congratulations, you're now high school grads! May good fortune favor you all!" He smiled down at the assembled young men and women. "This class is hereby dismissed!"
A collective roar of shouts and cheers erupted from the just-now graduates as they rose and celebrated, some tossing their hats into the air, others waved them, and most hugging and shaking hands with each other. The large crowds in the football stands and around the outside of the field also joined in the applause and the celebration.
The entire class had been lined up in order by last name to make the process of handing out the diplomas, as they came onto the stage, easier. The only exception was Felix Renton, who had been the first to receive his diploma, given he was in a wheelchair. Now the grads scattered to find fellow classmates as friends and family were now allowed to enter the football field to join in the celebration under a perfect, clear, mild, blue sky.
In his purple boys' graduation robe & hat and holding his diploma, Ron was sorting through the throng of grads when he spotted her hugging her best female friend. With a loving big smile, he made his way toward the two girls who parted, and when they saw him, both smiled at him as he approached.
Kim, in her gold girls' graduation robe, hat, and honor-roll scarf, nearly leaped into her boyfriend's waiting arms and both hugged each other tightly as he whipped her around in a circle, both laughing with a smiling Monique watching. "Oh, Ron! We did it! We're high school grads now!" she said as he placed her feet back down onto the ground.
"We sure are, KP!" he said, smiling down into her green eyes.
"Yeah," Monique piped, in her own golden grad robe & hat. "Now we can blow this joint and check out the real world out there." Both Kim and Ron chuckled at this. The African-American opened her arms out. "Now come here and give me a huge hug, Naco King." Ron happily obliged, and both hugged hard, ending it with her giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Ronman!" a familiar male voice cried out, and all three turned and smiled as Felix, in his purple robe & hat, joined them. The brown-haired man held up his palm and both young men high-five each other with the girls watching. Afterward, Felix warmly accepted a hug from each lady before returning his attention to his best friend. "How does it feel to be a grad now?"
Ron's smile became goofy. "Well," he said grandly, "I feel like I can take on Drakken's whole synthodrone army."
Monique gave a snort of a laugh. "Didn't you and Kim do that two months ago?" Felix snickered at this.
Standing by her man, Kim wrapped her right arm around his waist, prompting him to wrap his left arm around her shoulders. "That we did, Mon," she said with a wide grin up at Ron's smiling face. "That we did."
"Booyah," Ron responded, and all four graduates laughed, before Ron leaned down to plant a kiss on his beloved's lips, both momentarily closed their eyes to savor it.
"I told ya we'll find them smooching," the voice of Tim Possible said, causing her big sister and boyfriend to break apart. Both turned to see Tim and Jim standing next to each other with Mom and Dad behind them. Jim was holding a digital camera.
A sly grinning Jim held up the camera. "Yeah, now we have yet another cootie shot to add to their prom pic."
Ron, Monique, and Felix chuckled, while Kim gave a smirk. "Tweebs," she said with a hint of warning in her voice.
Ann Possible, in a dress, laughed. "Don't worry. Your brothers promised not to place any shots on the Net or with the news media." Her grin turned into a warm smile as she rushed forward to hug her daughter, who returned the embrace with a smile. "Congratulations, Kimmie!"
The group soon enlarged when Mr. & Mrs. Stoppable with Rufus joined them, followed by Mrs. Renton, and last by Mr. & Mrs. Williams, Monique's older brother, and younger one. Words of congrats went around the group.
A pleasant surprise greeted Kim and Ron when words were spoken from a person they had mostly known through her locker computer and Kimmunicator for many years. "Congratulations, you two."
Turning from talking with Monique's parents, they knew who they would see and were not disappointed to come face-to-face with their 12-year-old tech wizard, Wade Load.
"Wade!" Kim smiled and threw her arms down and around the grinning boy. "You're here!"
"Of course!" Wade smirked while returning the hug, feeling a bit embarrassed since everyone in the group was watching. "I'm not going to miss seeing you and Ron graduate."
After Kim released him, Ron held out his hand and the two shook hands, grinning. "This is like the second time we've seen you in person, Wade buddy! You should come out of your room more often!"
"That's what we keep telling him!" Mrs. Load said with a teasing grin as she and her husband stood behind Wade. "Go out and enjoy life outside the house for a change."
"Mom," Wade whined with a small grin, making everyone laughed.
After giving her son a pat on the shoulder, Mrs. Load, still grinning, focused on her son's two best friends. "Kim, Ron, congratulations." She hugged them each, and soon after the group's conversations returned to normal again.
So they all conversed and various photos were taken. Similar events were happening to other groups all across the football field.
After many minutes together, a well-known military voice sounded out, catching the group's attention. "Stoppable! Possible!" They all turned to see Vice-Principal Steve Barkin, in his dean robes approached them, focusing on Kim and Ron, who had Rufus on his shoulder. He stopped before the two young grads, looking stern as he always did, which made Kim and Ron feel tense for a moment, but his lips turned up to give a grin and when he extended his hand to both of them, the two relaxed. "Congratulations." He shook Ron's hand first before shaking Kim's. "Of all the students in this class, I always felt you two would do good."
"Thanks, Mr. B," Ron replied with a grin. Even Rufus grinned in return.
Kim followed suit, smiling. "Thank you, Mr. Barkin."
Nodding, the big ex-marine continued. "I've been told by certain sources that more than a month ago you two applied for Upperton University." Both young adults nodded an affirmative. "Just to let you know, I'd sent letters of recommendation to Upperton University on your behalves." Surprise expressions appeared around the group at this news; some were flabbergasted while others were pleasantly astonished. Barkin gave a small smirk upon seeing his two ex-students' wide eyes. "You two should be able to get in."
No one said anything for a minute or two before Kim's lips grew into a warm smile as she reached over to hold onto Ron's hand. "Thank you, Mr. Barkin. Ron and I want to continue our education for a better future for ourselves." Ron smiled warmly at her and squeezed her hand.
"That's good to hear, Possible," Barkin replied with an approving grin. "You two will go far if you put as much into your university work as you did your missions," his eyes focused on Ron, "especially you, Stoppable."
"No sweat, Mr. B," Ron answered with a wave of his free hand as he gave his Ron grin. "I'm going to study and make a new life for myself. All for KP," he finished before turning his head to eye Kim, whose loving gaze melted his heart.
Barkin eyed Ron closely and noticed the young man was really sincere despite that goofy grin. He had watched Stoppable in the past months since he and Possible became a couple at the prom. It didn't take much to see how much change Stoppable underwent, and all it took was a certain redheaded, long-time, best friend showing she loved him. Love could change people for the better, and seeing Stoppable and Possible lovingly gazing at each other now was enough for Vice-Principal Barkin to know they would indeed be at each other's side for a long time.
Clearing his throat once to get the young couple's attention, Barkin thumbed toward the edge of the field toward the nearby parking lot. "Just to let you two know, the number of reporters increased after you two arrived a couple hours ago." Everyone turned to see that several TV news vans and many reporters with cameras and microphones were all waiting beyond the field. Kim and Ron particularly groaned. "No graduation has ever been as highly documented by the news medias as this one. All thanks to you two."
"Do we have to face them?" Ron moaned with Rufus imitating him.
Kim squeezed his hand, drawing strength from him as she eyed the hoard of reporters. "It seems we have no choice in the matter."
"Indeed," Barkin agreed with her. "They're here to witness the high school graduation of two well-known world heroes, and they're not going to leave until they get what they came for, namely to talk to you." He pointed to Kim then Ron before sighing, withdrawing his finger. "Here's my advice. Give them what they want. Afterward most of them will leave and you two can celebrate with your friends and families. Better to face them here than having them follow you back to your homes."
The young couple grimaced at that mental image. It would not be nice to have so many reporters surrounding their homes like they were under siege. Their families would not have a moment of peace.
Seeing Kim and Ron knew they would have to face the press, Barkin spoke up with confidence. "I know you two will pull through. Think of this as just another of your missions. Face your opponents and do not flinch." Kim's expression showed she was going to do that, while Ron was still a bit uneasy. "Good luck to you both." He grinned. "You two will do okay with your lives." With that said, he nodded to everyone else and even offered congratulations to Monique and Felix before departing.
Still holding his hand, Kim looked into those chocolate eyes she had known for so long, and her lips formed into a quirky smirk. "Shall we face the villains of the news media, partner?"
Ron chuckled, and the last of his uneasiness faded away. He knew they could face anything together. "I'm with ya all the way, KP." Kim fully smiled at his words.
So together, hand-in-hand with families and friends behind them, Team Possible walked toward the edge of the field and the nearest exit. As soon as they left, reporters with TV cameras and flashing photo cameras surrounded them. Their families and friends managed to get by the horde as they watched Kim and Ron, with Rufus on his shoulder, answering questions.
It was only a few minutes into the Q&A session that the questions started to become personal, ranging from the future of them as a couple, to marriage, and even children. Kim mostly answered these inquiries, given Ron seemed flustered replying to topics that he and his girlfriend hadn't even discussed yet, for after all, they had only been together for a few months now. With a kind smile, Kim deflected the topics with the truth that they had only started their relationship and marriage and children were far from their minds at the moment.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly according to Kim, but just when she thought things were safely winding down, one male reporter, who hadn't yet asked a question, dropped a bombshell on her. "Miss Possible, what type of person do you consider yourself sexually? I'm sure Mr. Stoppable can testify to your fervor in the sack."
Green and brown eyes bugged out for a moment, before the emerald ones narrowed at the sleazy reporter with a photographer still snapping shots behind him. Friends and families were shocked, and even some of the other reporters were taken back a bit at that question. When the leader of Team Possible spoke, her voice has a cold edge on it. "That is a very private matter that neither of us will answer. I'm sure even you would not answer such a question in public."
The reporter didn't even flinch. "So the answer is 'yes' then, that you're quite a sexual person. I mean really, did you two do it when you were on that camping trip alone together?"
Not even aware she was doing it, Kim's hands were clenching as her eyes narrowed even further as her cheeks started to turn red. "Again, that is a very private question that is strictly between me and my boyfriend. I refuse to answer anymore of your questions." With that said, she took a red-cheeked Ron by the hand and dragged him away from the reporters toward the parking lot and her ride, namely her family's van
Yet the reporter immediately threw a final shot at the departing couple. "So it is true! You two did bed together on that trip!"
That was enough to get some of the other reporters to come after them with cameras still going off around them.
It was fortunate that Mr. & Mrs. Possible had the foresight to get the vehicle running by the time Kim and Ron reached the vehicle in the parking lot. The young couple quickly entered the family van, which was used so often for long distance trips, and Mr. Possible drove off, leaving the reporters behind.
"Man," Tim said from the backseat with his brother as they watched some of the reporters scrambling to their cars to follow. "This seems a bigger feeding frenzy than after the Diablos attacked the world."
The van soon parted the high school's parking lot and was heading the short distance to the Possible residence.
Sitting in the middle seat, Kim sighed. She turned to look up into Ron's concern eyes as she frowned. "So much for them leaving us alone."
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"I can't believe they're still here," Doctor James Possible lightly scowled as he stared out the front window of the family room. His eyes narrowed at the nearby-parked vehicles where some of the news media were waiting for a chance to catch Team Possible if they emerged from the house. Those vehicles had been there for hours, and now the sun was setting over the horizon.
"Well," Donald Stoppable started as he looked out the window besides James, "if they're still here when we leave tonight, Ron might have to leave through your backyard and go around the block." He raised a glass of wine to his lips.
As Donald sipped his wine, next to him, his wife Hanna shook her head at the sight of the relentless reporters outside the Possible household. "I just do not understand this frenzy. Kim and Ron have saved the world and done many other great deeds before, so why are they so interested in them now?"
"Because they're a couple now, that's why," Ann Possible replied as she stood on the other side of her husband from Mr. Stoppable. She gave a small smile at Ron's mother. "Hanna, we've discussed this before, shortly after the prom. They're heroes and combined with the fact they're a loving couple, the public just loves the romantic mixture."
Hanna shook her head again and sighed. "I know, Ann. It's just…" She frowned and waved her hand almost angrily in gesture at the stalking members of the news media. "They're children, and they shouldn't be hounded like this!"
Donald gave a sympathetic grin at his wife. "Dear…" Her eyes turned to look into his. "Ronald and Kimberly are no longer children. They're near the age of adulthood now."
"Don is right," Ann said with her own understanding grin. She twisted her torso to face toward the large group of happy, celebrating young people in the room, and the other three adults followed suit. "They're no longer children."
The Possible graduation party had started when the Possibles with Ron arrived home several hours ago. Ron's parents, the Williams, Rentons, and Loads soon arrived afterward. A few days before today, Kim had invited all the members of the cheer squad to the party, and every one of them was now here. Bonnie, of course, was the exception. Kim was not surprised, given how much the brown-haired girl wouldn't be caught dead at any Possible social function.
Ann resumed after a moment looking proudly at her daughter. "Kim will be turning 18 in a few weeks in July. Ron," her eyes caught looked at the young man who was talking with his wheel-chaired best friend, "will be 18 in August. I know they're old enough now to make decisions on their own." She smiled fondly at the two young adults. "If they do eventually take the next step in their relationship and go all the way, I wish them all the happiness for them."
Mr. Possible gave a somewhat melancholy grin as he took his wife's hand into his to seek her comfort and support. She squeezed his hand and smiled kindly back at him, for she understood how difficult it was for him to let Kim go. His Kimmie Cub was no longer a little girl, who needed his guidance and support anymore. She was a young woman now with a fine young man by her side. His grin became proud on the thought. "Fine young man indeed. I don't mind if he, one day, will become my son-in-law."
Mrs. Stoppable was thinking the same things, yet her mind was on her son, who was now a man. She knew he has another woman in his heart now besides her, and she approved of Kim highly. "I know she'll become my daughter-in-law. I know it."
Clearing his throat, Mr. Stoppable caught the attention of the other three parents. "I think it's time, Hanna." His free hand reached into his formal suit coat's pocket to pull out an envelope before walking toward his son.
"Ronald," Mr. Stoppable called out as he approached.
Ron looked around from conversing with Wade and Felix, who has Rufus in his lap. "Yeah, Dad?" he asked as his father came to a stop beside him. Felix, Rufus, and Wade looked at them with interest.
Father held out the envelope to his son. "Before your mother and I left for the graduation ceremony, the mail arrived. This is for you from Upperton University."
Ron, Rufus, Felix, and Wade's eyes went wide at this news as Ron took the envelope in hand. Kim, being nearby, also heard Mr. Stoppable's words, and she immediately joined her man with her hands on his shoulders. "Ron, open it!" she excitedly said, looking at the envelope over his shoulders. All talk in the room came to a halt upon her words.
Quickly tearing the flap open with a finger, Ron took out the letter and scanned the contents with Kim reading behind his shoulder. His face slowly formed a large, victorious smile with his girlfriend matching him. He raised a pumped fist in the air. "BOOYAH! I'M IN!"
As the room erupted in cheers and words of congratulations, Kim turned her man around and hugged him tightly, for she was so proud he was now enrolled in Upperton University. His letter stated he has earned a culinary/cooking scholarship, and it was good for his entire time at the university.
Breaking the hug, Ron looked down at Kim's glowing, happy face, and a thought came to his mind. "Wait a minute! KP, what about you?"
Kim gasped upon realizing what he was talking about. If his letter arrived today… She immediately turned to look up at her father. "Daddy?"
Mr. Possible grinned. "Our mail arrived as well, Kimmie Cub. We didn't have time to sort it through though." He pointed to the unsorted mail sitting on the coffee table.
Sprinting into action, Kim bent down over the coffee table and sorted through the pile until she found the envelope from Upperton University. She nearly ripped the envelope apart to pull out the letter as she stood up. As she read, everyone around her awaited the answer.
Looking up from the letter to gaze into the brown eyes of her beau, Kim's lips formed a smug grin. "You're not going alone, Ron. I'm following you in."
"DOUBLE BOOYAH!" Ron cried out as he scooped Kim into his arms, and the room once more erupted into cheers and words of congratulations as the young couple hugged and laughed together. Letting go of each other, Kim showed Ron the letter. She has earned a cheerleading scholarship, and it too would help cover her courses for her duration at Upperton U.
The Possible graduation party continued with everyone having a good time.
Unfortunately, no one was aware of a black-clad figure that was nearly invisible underneath the front window. She had heard everything, and it was enough information for her to know her clients would pay her big for it.
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Kim growled. It was the kind of growl that anyone could easily tell that she was angry and tweaked beyond normal. For Ron, he had seen her angry many times, and on a 1 to 10 on the 'Kimmie Angry' meter, this rated a 9. Of course it was nothing compared to the one time she rated an 11 when she was under the control of the moodulator chip, and since then, he vowed to never do anything to ever truly make her an 11-rated angry monster, sans an emotional control device.
"How could they do this to us?" she snapped as her blazing green eyes stared down at several different tabloids and newspapers on the kitchen table of her home.
"I don't know, KP," Ron said as he also looked down at the jumble of papers as he sat next to his girlfriend. On his shoulder, Rufus was also looking down at the printed materials. "Maybe it's called 'Freedom of the Press'."
Piercing snapping eyes rose to focus on him, and he immediately regretted even hinting that he was on the side of the press on this matter even though he wasn't. "Amp down, Kim. I don't like this anymore than you." She visibly relaxed a little. "I was just pointing out what they would say if we confronted them."
Sighing, Kim turned back to the papers. "You're right, Ron," she admitted as her fury dissipated. "It's just this is the third time in a row they've used us to make headlines for their stupid stories. The first time after the Diablo Event, I didn't mind, but when they printed those photos of us on our camping trip, that was when they crossed the line." She scowled. "This time they've really crossed the line."
Ron picked up a tabloid paper, and he and Rufus read it. "'Team Possible graduates from Middleton High School and will be attending Upperton University. The loving couple, wild in bed for each other, will opt for a one-room apartment with all the trimmings.'" He frowned. "They make it sound like we're bunch of sex freaks."
"We're not," the redhead snarled. "Thanks to them, the whole world thinks we're doing the horizontal tango in bed and not still virgins as we are."
Brown eyes turned to look at her with a mock serious face. "You think we shouldn't 'experiment' anymore."
Kim locked her eyes with his before pointing at him. "Don't you even think about stopping our 'experiments', Mr. Stoppable," she teased with a sly grin. "I like the way we're progressing toward the final results."
Her boyfriend grinned as he leered at her. "Booyah," he whispered, making her giggled.
Their 'experiments', whenever they were alone for a number of hours at either of their homes, were mostly petting, necking, kissing, and roaming hands. Once so far, they'd discarded their shirts, and Ron was able to see her for the first time in a lacy bra, but other than that one time, they hadn't gone further toward 'going all the way'. Both of them were still a bit afraid of finally taking that step, but they couldn't deny they would eventually get there when they truly felt they were ready to express their love that way.
As of now, the press had put a damper on their 'experiments' for the time being. Yet Kim didn't mind showing her love in the usual way as most couples do. She reached over, pulled his head toward hers, and covered his lips with her own. Both closed their eyes and just melted together, enjoying the touch of each other.
Upon seeing Kim was going to kiss Ron, Rufus had hopped down off his owner's shoulders onto the table just before the redhead beauty initiated their typical lips-smacking lockdown. Taking a nacho chip off a plate, Rufus ate and shook his head. His two favorite humans in the world sure were all over each other ever since he had pushed them together at the prom. As he ate, he waited for any definite signs that they would start to get truly mushy with each other, given there was no one else in the house. If the signs were there, he would leave, for he didn't want to take any chances of seeing two humans mating in heat.
After a couple of minutes, they parted and smiled at each other. Just looking at the grinning, goofy face sure was a stress reliever at times for her. Getting a dose of occasional 'Ronshine' was just what she needed.
"So," Kim said as she looked into those glowing, chocolate orbs she loved, "my birthday is a few weeks away. Did you buy my present yet?"
Ron nodded his head, smiling. "Oh, I did, and like everyone else, you'll find out on the memorable day you become a legal adult."
Her lips curled up as she gave a coy expression. "How about you tell me now?" she purred as she ran a finger over the lobe of his left ear.
"Will not do, KP," he replied with a smirk. "You just have to wait and see."
She knew he couldn't resist her next move. Her hands folded in her lap, her lower lip pouted out, and her face became pitiful. "Pwease, Wonnie poo."
His hand slapped over his eyes and turned his head away. "No fair!" he cried out. "Not The Pout! I'm not telling! La, la, la!"
Kim kept her expression intact but spoke in her normal voice. "Fine. I'll wait." She waited for Ron to open his eyes and look at her.
Instead of opening his eyes, Ron kept his hand over his closed eyelids. "You're still using The Pout, KP."
Mentally frowning that that trick wouldn't work on him anymore, Kim was about to use another tactic to get his eyes on her when the familiar four tones of her Kimmunicator chirped out. Beep-beep-be-beep
"Yes!" Ron nearly screamed out in joy. "Saved by the Wademan!"
Letting out a spluttering breath, Kim reached for the Kimmunicator in her pocket as Ron, hearing her splutter, released his hand and opened his eyes to look at her with a relieved grin. She pressed the button on the PDA and Wade's face appeared. "What's the sitch, Wade?"
Upon seeing her slightly tweaked face, Wade was no fool. "What tweaked you, and it's not regarding those stories published a few days ago."
Giving a small grin, Kim knew she couldn't hide anything from her young friend. "Oh, I was trying to get Ron to reveal what he'll be giving me for my birthday."
Wade chuckled. "You were using The Pout on him," he simply stated before taking a sip of soda through a straw.
Before Kim could reply, Ron chimed in. "Yes, she did!" he whined as he leaned over Kim's shoulder to place himself in Wade's visional range. "I say there should be a law passed to ban all Puppy Dog Pouts from the world!"
"As if!" Kim said with an amused grin as she pushed Ron's grinning face out of her face and Wade's view. She stuck out her tongue at him, making Wade chuckle again.
"Well, Kim's PDP aside," Wade said, "we have a hit on the site for help, and a big name villain finally came out of hiding."
"Really?" Kim asked, surprised. In the past few months, since defeating Drakken, most of the big villains had stayed low. Team Possible had done small stuff since, from bank robberies to the usual cat stuck in the tree.
"Uh-huh," Wade nodded. "It's Dementor. He's stolen a device you and Ron are quite familiar with by now."
Rolling her eyes, Kim immediately knew what her tech guru was referring. "The Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer."
"You got it," Wade responded with a frown as he shook his head.
"Aw, man!" Ron complained. "Why don't they just get rid of it? Toss it into space! Bury it! Why do they always go after the PDVI! They might as well change the universe to where Bueno Nacho doesn't exist!"
Kim rolled her eyes again but this time she smirked as she shook her head. That was Her Ron. He might betaking some things seriously these days, but he wouldn't be Ron if he didn't say anything crazy or silly. "Don't worry, Ron. Bueno Nacho will not be wiped out of existence." She looked down at Wade's face on the small PDA screen. "Got our ride up?"
The 12-year-old boy grinned. "Yep, it'll be at your front door in an hour." Then his face turned thoughtful. "Kim, you're nearly 18 now, and you still haven't got your own vehicle. You and Ron should really consider getting your own set of wheels, now that you're attending Upperton University."
"Yeah, I know," Kim frowned a bit. The problem was that she didn't have the money to buy a car she needed. Middleton had a good public transit system to get around town, and she always has easy rides to and from her missions. If she were going to attend Upperton University, she would need her own wheels if she wanted to return home occasionally.
Ron however didn't appear to be worried, for he was smiling like a smug cat. "No problemo for the Ronster. I have my set of wheels planned out."
This surprised his girlfriend and Wade. "You? With all due respect, Ron, I know you don't have much money. How are you going to afford to buy a car?"
Rising from his seat, Ron continued to give that self-satisfied expression. "It's not a car, KP, but it's the next best thing for me to upgrade to from the Ferret scooter."
Kim's curiosity was piqued. His scooter, thanks to the rockets upgrade on the night of the Diablo attack, was a nice vehicle for them to get around, yet even she knew that scooter wouldn't be practical if Ron was going to attend Upperton University. "Will you tell me what you're planning to buy, Ron?"
"You'll see," he said with his Ron grin before heading out of the kitchen toward the stairs with Rufus following. "Come on, KP. We have to change before our ride gets here."
"I'll talk to you later, Wade," Kim quickly grinned at her friend, who nodded. She closed the channel before immediately going after her partner to her room to change into her mission clothes.
Along the way, Team Possible's leader wondered if she could try to use the PDP on Ron to make him spill regarding his new set of wheels he has in mind.
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Thus Team Possible momentarily forgot about their problems with the news media as they fought Dementor. They won as usual and brought back the PDVI intact. Much to Ron's chagrin, the PDVI was again placed in the hands of the same owners as before, and before that, and before that. Again, he wondered how many times would the PDVI be stolen before someone might actually use it to create a black hole. Then again, he hoped it would not be Mr. Dr. P using it to put him in a black hole, despite knowing the elder Possible was just teasing him with that threat.
That night the late night talk shows had a ball with some jokes at Kim and Ron's expense, regarding graduating and marrying at the same time. Heck, some of them joked regarding the PDVI. How they knew about the PDVI, no one knew. For Kim and Ron however, they weren't laughing.
Just as with the camping trip pictures, the new media blitz focused on them died down after a few days, despite some paparazzi still lingering around. Yet the paparazzi were the least of Kim and Ron's worries. Preparations to attend Upperton University were on the top of their priorities as they dealt with filing paper work, figuring out what classes to attend, where would they live, etc. So much work had to be done in time before the first semester started near the end of August only two months away.
In mid-July, Kim's 18th Birthday Celebration provided a most welcome distraction for everyone, especially for all of Kim's friends from high school. It was the last time most of them would ever see each other together, given they would be scattered to the four winds across the country attending different colleges and universities. Kim was fortunate to be having Ron, Monique, and Felix with her at Upperton U, but she knew she would miss the other members of the cheer squad deeply, and she was going to make sure her birthday party was going to be a great bond finale for everyone.
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Emerald eyes gazed out of the family room windows waiting to catch sight of a particular person. She knew he would be here as he always had for every one of her birthdays sans the one summer he went to Camp Wannaweep. This was after all her first birthday with Ron as her boyfriend, and she wondered what he would get for her.
"Girlfriend," the voice of her best female friend came from behind as she approached, "you know your BF will be here, so quit staring out the window." Monique grinned. "You look like he took a trip on the other side of the world for a month and today he'll be coming home, instead of having just seen him yesterday."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she slightly grinned. "You're right, Mon, just I'm curious to know what he'll get for me. After all, this is my first birthday with us as a couple."
Brown eyes twinkled as her lips became coy. "Oooooh, you're thinking he'll get you something shiny and pretty to wear, like pearls, a jewel hair brooch, or…" She waggled her brow. "Maybe he'll get you that engagement rock."
Kim's eyes went wide as she turned to face Monique, and seeing that teasing face, she giggled and slapped her friend, making her laugh "Monique! We're certainly not thinking of marriage this soon!"
"True," Monique said as her laughter died down, but she still kept on an amused smile. "Yet you two been acting like a married couple ever since I met you when I first moved to Middleton."
"She's right, Kim," Hope said as she walked over to the two girls, followed by the other members of the cheer squad, sans Bonnie. "You and Ron were pretty tight for a long time."
"Yeah," Kim smiled in appreciation at her friends, "and I just can't imagine my life without him. He's always been there for me."
Just then they all heard the sounds of a motorcycle coming down the road, and turning to look out the windows, all the girls watched as a blue motorcycle came into view, slowed down, and entered the Possible's driveway. The rider was wearing a black helmet with the visor down, so they couldn't see his face. He was also wearing the typical windproof jackets most cyclists wear when on the road.
Frowning, Kim stared at the figure. "Who is this guy?" Curious, she led her girlfriends toward the front door and out of the house to meet the stranger, who looked up at the girls as they approached while the rest of the Possible family looked on from the doorway. "Hello, can we help you?"
It was easy to tell the guy was chuckling from the way his body and head shook a bit. "Well, KP, I think maybe you can give me a kiss, if you want to help me out."
The voice took everyone by surprised as they stared at the figure. "Ron?" Kim asked wide-eyed as the man removed his helmet to reveal the blonde hair and smiling face of Ron. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Ron?" she asked again as the other girls came around her to look at Ron and his new bike.
Ron chuckled again. "Yes, KP, it's me."
Monique whistled as she examined the sleek motorbike. "You got yourself some sporty two-wheeler, Ron!"
Still amazed, Kim looked at her boyfriend, and that face was all Ron needed to know that she highly wanted an explanation. "Kim, remember I said weeks ago that I'm getting my own set of wheels?" Kim nodded before Ron resumed. "Well, I sold my scooter, and along with money chipped in from my account and some from my folks, I've bought my upgraded set of wheels!" he finished grandly gesturing to the motorcycle.
"I'm impressed, Ron!" Tara admitted with a grin as she looked at Ron, who smiled at her.
"Same here," Hope said, and soon all the other girls confessed the same. Kim finally broke a grin at her man. He was growing up, and she liked the way he was doing it.
Just then, Jim and Tim ran up to stare at the left side of the bike with broad grins. "Spankin' cool!" Jim praised.
"It's a 2005 Kawasaki KLV1000!" Tim mentioned as he placed a hand on the left handle bar.
Ron gave an amused, astounded grin at the twins' accuracy, while Kim looked at her brothers perplexed. "When did, you Tweebs, know about motorcycles?"
The twins gave their big sister dense expressions. "Well, duh!" both said together.
"You think all we know…" Tim began.
"Are just rockets?" Jim finished before both narrowed their eyes at her as they crossed their arms.
Ron snickered as his eyes turned from the two brothers to their sister, who smirked as she rolled her eyes. "Whatever," Kim replied as she waved away her brothers' question, while the other girls giggled.
Still smirking, Kim's green eyes locked onto Ron's brown ones. "So," her smirk became sly, "did you get your girlfriend her birthday present?"
His face lit up as he unzipped his jacket, and using his right hand, reach in to pull out a small wrapped flat box. Holding up the box in front of her, Ron waggled his brows. "Does the lovely lady want to open it now or wait until later?"
All the girls looked at Kim with amused expressions, while the redhead looked at the box in her boyfriend's hand. She was tempted to take it and open it now. Giving a teasing grin, she crossed her arms. "How can I be sure they're not Bueno Nacho Bueno Bucks?"
Ron placed his right hand and the gift over his chest in mock horror and shock. "Kimberly Ann Possible! How could you even think your boyfriend would give you Bueno Nacho Bueno Bucks?" Everyone began chuckling and giggling at Ron's mock hurt expression. His face became smug as he held up the present in front of her. "For that, you're not going to open you present until later."
"Hey!" Kim cried out as she made a grab for the gift, only for Ron to pull it out of her reach. "I want my present!"
He kept moving it out of her reach for her every attempt to grab the gift. "No. No. No. No. No." he amusedly said every time he moved the wrapped package. Again everyone laughed at the playfulness the young couple was displaying.
It was then that a certain pink mole rat was jarred out of his nap from Ron's movements, and popping out of his cargo pants pocket, he saw Kim. Rufus happily jumped out of the pocket, startling everyone for a moment, before climbing up Kim's arm to hug her on the cheek. "Happy Birthday!" he chirped.
Grinning, Kim gently returned the hug. "Thank you, Rufus," she said before letting him go and he let go of her. "There's chips and cheese dip inside."
"Cheese!" he cried out before jumping off her shoulder and ran into the house.
"Don't eat them all!" Kim called out with a smile after the littlest member of Team Possible. Everyone chuckled at her words.
As Kim turned back to face her beau, something caught the corner of her eye. Her green eyes narrowed upon realizing who it was in a car parked a little bit down the road. Looking at Ron, she saw he was looking at her oddly, so she immediately clarified the sitch. "Park your bike, Ron, and come inside. We're being watched." She turned and headed inside.
"What?" Ron asked bewildered, until he turned his torso and noticed the car and the two strangers inside. One of them was holding up a camera with telescopic zoom lens. "Aw, man!" he frowned. "It's them again!"
As he parked his bike and got off it, the Possibles, Monique, and the other girls faced the direction of the car and noticed what had made Kim and Ron tweaked. They all frowned and shook their heads. Ron walked into the house followed by the others. "Why can't the paparazzi just leave Kim and I alone," Ron scowled.
"Courage, Ronald, courage," Mr. Possible said and he patted Ron's left shoulder as they both entered the family room followed by Mrs. P, the Tweebs, Monique, and the rest of Kim's former cheer squad. "Sooner or later the public will loose interest and those nosey photographers will look elsewhere to earn their 'bread'."
"I hope so, Dad," Kim said as she stood next to the coffee table where Rufus was dunking chips into the cheese dip before eating them. "Ron and I can't go around with those freaks tailing us all the time." All her girlfriends came and stood around her as Ron and her family stood in front of her. "How can we have a normal life at Upperton U with them harassing us?"
Mrs. Possible gave a comforting grin. "As your father said, hopefully this will die down. You shouldn't be upset over this now."
"She's right, Kim girl," Monique said with hand on her friend's s left shoulder. "We're here to celebrate you reaching an age where you," she pointed a finger with her other hand and gave a grin, "have left teenage-hood behind and now can vote those political yahoos out of office!"
Everyone laughed, and Kim felt the tension drain from her body. "Thanks, Monique," she grinned at her best female friend, and both shared amused expressions.
Marcella, who was between Monique and Ron, turned her head to look at the smiling blonde boy. "By the way, Ron, is Felix coming today?"
"Oh, yeah," Ron answered. "He'll be running a bit late, but he'll be here."
Kim knew Ron's best male friend was doing some things for his mom, yet he promised he would be here. Ron's 'rents couldn't make it, given they left yesterday on a business trip. For the redhead, it was ironic that her BF came out okay for someone whose parents were mostly not home during the past four high school years.
So the party resumed with everyone enjoying him or herself. Felix came as he said he would, and later on, as the sun was setting, Kim started to open her presents. Ron, with Rufus on his shoulder, sat on her left on the couch, while Monique sat on her right. The rest of the girls sat along side either side of the three, while Felix was on the opposite side of the coffee table from Kim with Mr. & Mrs. Possible standing besides him. The Tweebs had lost interest and were in their room
As Kim one by one opened her presents, Ron held back to give his present last, although he haven't yet seen Mr. & Mrs. Doctor P gave their daughter their present. He wondered what they had up their sleeves.
After many minutes, the coffee table was full of ripped wrappings, opened boxes, and discarded wrapping bows. Kim placed aside Monique's present of a Club Banana gift certificate before turning her head to gaze at her beloved man. "Well, it seems there is only one person left I haven't received my present from." Her eyes sparkled as her face became coy. "Do I get to open my present now, Mr. Stoppable?"
Displaying his trademark Ron smile, the goofy boy held up the wrapped gift, and it was swiftly snatched from his hand by his eager girlfriend, who smirked at him. He just simply continued to smile as she clawed away the wrapping and opened the small box.
Kim gave a gasp at what she saw, while Monique, looking over, went wide-eyed. Before anyone could say anything, Kim pulled out the item by the chain for everyone to see it. It was a gold chain necklace with an emerald-stylized KP logo hanging from it.
"Ron," Kim softly said as she turned to him with a warm smile, touched with receiving such a beautiful gift.
Giving a loving grin, Ron shrugged. "No big, KP." He reached over and picked up the necklace from her. "Here, let's put this on." As Rufus hopped off his shoulder onto to coffee table, Ron unsnapped the clasp before placing the necklace around her neck as she held up her hair. When he snapped the clasp together, Kim let go of her hair and made sure the jeweled KP emblem was position correctly for everyone to see it. It looked wonderful in place on her neck with the emerald 'KP' matching her eyes.
Before Ron could pull away, Kim swiftly wrapped her arms tightly around him in a hug, and after a moment from being surprised from her movement, he returned the hug. Everyone warmly smiled at the loving couple.
After a couple of minutes, Kim pulled away to look into that adorable face she loved so much. "Ron, how could you afford to get this for me?" she asked as her right hand fingered the jewel insignia.
"Well…" Ron sheepishly grinned. "A month ago, before we graduated, I went to Middleton Jewelers and asked them to just make a simple engraved KP logo on a wrist chain. Yet the owner of the store remembered we stopped that robbery two years ago, the one where the crooks nearly got away with $100,000 worth of jewelry, so he insisted on making the emerald logo on a gold chain necklace. I persisted though in paying him, despite he wanted to give me the necklace for free. He asked just twenty dollars for it."
Monique couldn't believe it. "Ron," she began as she pointed around Kim to the necklace, "I don't think that is worth just twenty dollars."
Ron nervously chuckled. "You're right. It's not worth just 20 dollars." After a moment as he looked into Kim's eyes, he resumed. "It's worth two thousand."
"TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS?" everyone nearly shouted, flabbergasted at the necklace's actual value. Felix whistled in awe.
Kim was stunned as her fingers held the jewel necklace. "Ron…" she nearly whispered. "Are these emeralds…?"
He grinned and nodded. "Real? Yes, they're real emeralds." His confession made everyone even more astonished. "The logo's frame and the chain are real 24 karat gold."
Her mind just couldn't wrap around what she currently was wearing. Never before in her life had she ever had such an expensive piece of jewelry. Kim slowly started to shake her head. "I can't…" Her words made everyone realized what she was going to say and do. "No, I can't have this."
Just as she reached up to undo the clasp, Ron quickly took her hands in his own and held them as he focus steadily into Kim's eyes. "Kim… he insisted. I too declined at first, yet he strongly urged me to take it. He saw through the news how much we loved each other and said he and his wife shared the same loving look. He wants me to have this to give it to you to express our love for each other."
The room became silent as Kim released a few tears, her heart bursting. Despite knowing others were watching, she again tightly hugged her man and buried her face in his shoulder. She felt him return the hug and gently stroke her hair, making her love him more deeply than ever.
As he held her, Ron looked up to Kim's parents and saw them smiling warmly at him as they side hugged each other with Mrs. P's head resting on her husband's shoulder as she too released a few tears. Looking around, Ron saw the other girls were joyously looking at him and Kim with warm grins and some even sighed at the display of love they were shown. Finally looking at his wheel-chaired friend, Ron saw Felix gave a kind grin and thumb-up. Knowing everyone approved at the affectionate display, the blonde young man returned to eye his girlfriend as she gently released happy tears into his shoulder.
After a few minutes, Kim raised her face, smiling broadly as she wiped her eyes before looking at Ron. "I'm keeping it," she simply said that spoke volumes as her right fingers touched the necklace again. Ron smiled warmly back in return.
A throat clearing made the young couple and their friends turned toward Mr. Possible, who continued to hold his wife and vice versa. "Well, I don't know whether your mother and I can top that gift, Kimmie Cub," he grinned. "But now that you have unwrapped all your gifts, there is one final gift to give to you. Your mother and I think it's appropriate now that you'll be attending university." Seeing the curious and confused expression on his daughter's face, his head turned to his wife, who nodded once with a smile, before he returned facing his daughter as his hand reached into his pants pocket to pull out a key chain car remote with two car keys on it.
Kim let out a gasp as she eyed the key chain her father was holding. "Daddy?" Ron and everyone else knew what Mr. Possible was indicating with that key chain.
James Possible gestured toward the garage with his head. "Your gift is waiting in the garage, Kimmie Cub."
Without a word, Kim sprung from the couch and nearly ran toward the garage with Ron, Monique, the other girls, and Felix on her heels. She nearly slammed the door open and stood there with Ron and the others around her as they stared at the vehicle sitting in the garage.
It was Ron who broke the silence with a large grin. "Booyah! You got your own set of wheels, KP!" His joy made Monique and the others girls hug a grinning Kim as they walked into the garage to look at the vehicle closely.
When Kim, Ron, and the girls moved into the garage, Felix, with Rufus on his shoulder, finally was able to see what they saw, for he couldn't before due to his friends blocking his view. He whistled with a grin. "That's a Toyota Corolla." He wheeled into the garage with the Doctors Possible right behind him.
The car was indeed a Toyota Corolla - A 2005 model with four doors and shiny, red paint job.
Standing in front of the car with Ron besides her while the rest of their friends looked around the vehicle, Kim was beaming with happiness. She finally had her own car, which would take her anywhere she wanted within reasonable distance.
Kim whipped her head to the left to look up at her parents before she launched herself at them to give them a hug, which they returned in kind. Afterward, she pulled back to look at them, still grinning. "Mom, Dad, thank you."
Ann Possible placed a hand on her grown child's shoulder. "You're very much welcome, Kimmie," she said before withdrawing her hand.
With a proud grin, Mr. Possible held out the car keys to her daughter, who took them with pleasure. Each key would able to open the doors, trunk, and start the ignition.
Turning from looking at the car to his beloved's cheerful face, Ron smiled. "I don't think you have any more need of Middleton's bus transit system, KP." His hand indicated the car. "You have your own set of wheels to take you anywhere now."
"I'll say!" Monique exclaimed while looking inside the car through the driver's side window. "This is one sleek car!"
Kim's father nodded. "Yes, it is." He faced his daughter. "The vehicle will be registered under your name, Kimmie Cub." This caught everyone's attention. "You'll be responsible for maintaining it while you're at Upperton U."
Kim shrugged. "No big. I'll able to do so easily with you helping with my expenses."
Both James and Ann Possible looked at each other once before facing their daughter again. "Kimmie," Mrs. Possible began, "we're not going to be paying for everything."
This confused the youngest Possible woman. "You're not?"
"No," Mr. Possible said as he shook his head. "Your scholarship will help pay fully for your classes, books, and supplies, but it doesn't cover everything. Your mother and I agreed that we would only give you a certain allowance for a given school year."
"In other words, Kimmie," Mrs. Possible clarified, "you have to start learning how to budget when you're staying at Upperton U."
This threw Kim right off her joyous track. "Budget?" she asked dumbfounded, blinking up at her 'rents. "I have a budget?" Both parents bobbed their heads.
With a finger pointed at her daughter, Mr. Possible started explaining. "You have to start watching how much you spend, Kimmie Cub. You have to figure out expenses for food."
Mrs. Possible gestured to the car. "Putting aside money for gas, oil changes, and other maintenance for your car. You also have to pay for your car registration and insurance."
Mr. Possible raised his finger up. "Not to mention paying the rent on your dorm room."
"Further more, Kimmie," Mrs. P continued, "you'll have to watch how much you spend for your clothing."
"That means," Mr. P took up his wife's explanation, "you better think twice before spending money on expensive Club Banana clothing."
This last piece of advice shook Kim's foundation as well as made even Monique blinked in surprise. "No more Club Banana?" Kim asked, still flabbergasted
Mrs. Possible gave a kind, sympathetic grin. "I'm afraid so, Kimmie, if you have to watch your budget. Your father and I will not bail you out if you go broke and unable to pay for anything after spending your money on Club Banana wear."
Feeling numb, Kim turned to face her boyfriend, but instead of seeing compassion on his face, he wore a smug expression. His smugness made her narrow her eyes at him. "Why are you so full of yourself, Ron?"
With a raised finger, Ron put in plain words what he was thinking. "There is one place you can go to shop for clothing at low prices, KP."
At first, she didn't catch what he was talking about, but when her mind clicked on what her beau was referring to, her eyes went wide. "No."
"Yes," Ron said with a wicked grin.
"No," Kim shook her head, raising her voice a bit higher
"Yes," he matched the volume of her voice.
"No!" Kim cried out, not wanting to even think of going to that place.
"Yes!" Ron said in triumph. "Smarty Mart! The one place where shoppers shop smart!"
Kim buried her face in her hands as she shook her head. "No, no, no." Even Monique and the other girls looked horrified as well to even think of shopping at Smarty Mart for clothes.
Felix and Rufus were clearly tickled at the sight of the girls looking dismayed, while Mr. Doctor Possible slightly shook his head with a small lopsided grin.
Mrs. Doctor Possible sighed, again giving an understanding grin. "Kimmie," she said, and when Kim raised a dismal face at her, she resumed. "Ron is right. You may have to start shopping there, especially for your clothing."
Kim felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, and she turned to face a jolly Ron, which made her ire rise. "Don't sweat it, KP. The Ronster will guide you through how to become a Smarty Mart smart shopper." Oh, she felt like slapping that superior expression right off that face of his, boyfriend or not.
Sensing he was diving into dangerous waters with his girlfriend glaring at him, Ron changed the subject. "So," he smiled at her, "when are you going to take your sweet ride out for a trip around the town?"
The redhead's lips curled up slightly. She was not going to let her man off the hook that easily, but she let it go… for now. "Well, maybe tomorrow, I'll take my sweet ride out to the mall with Monique and the rest of the squad." She turned to face her girlfriends. "Right, ladies?"
The other girls smiled in turn. All of them loving a chance to ride in the car before Ron could.
Ron was crestfallen. "What about me?" he wined.
"Maybe later, Mr. Stoppable," she said smugly, knowing she caught him.
"Later?" the blonde man asked. Kim leaned up and whispered into his ear. His eyes shot up before a small grin appeared. "Ohhhh, later."
Seeing that devilish grin on Ronald's face, Mr. Possible knew what that meant. Feeling a hand holding his, he turned to look at his wife, who gave a particular grinning expression that said, "Don't even think of interfering." James gave a grin back that said, "I'm not going to."
Yet for the patriarch of the Possible family, his protective instincts still wanted to prepare that deep space probe for Ronald to ride to the black hole.
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Continue in Chapter III