Ron stood on the sidewalk in front of his home, gathering the courage to take the short walk up the drive. As he took the first step towards the door, his parents' faces came flooding into his mind. Taking a deep breath he gave a hearty knock and waited, straining his ears to hear any noise from inside.

After a few minuets he pounded on the door harder, still no response from inside. He took a step back from the stoop to look up into the upstairs window. Every light in the house was off and no sounds came from inside. He hung his head and started to walk down the drive, knowing exactly where to head next.

"Can I help you?" a soft vaguely familiar female voice from behind him said

Ron spun around to look at the source of the voice; he looked questioningly at the girl from the house to his left. The girl looked to be in her late teens early twenties, her eyes were ice blue with a slight silvery sheen to them. Her hair, obviously dyed, was a dark purple with bleach blonde highlights pulled into a tight ponytail.

Ron had the strange feeling that he had seen this girl before…but he couldn't put his finger on where. As he walked towards the 5 foot girl the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Kitty…is that you!" Ron's eyes were as big as dinner plates.

"How do you know my…" was all she got out as she read the name on his uniform.

Though she was only a mere five feet tall, weighing 100 lbs soaking wet holding a brick, the scream that escaped her lips would have put most opera singers to shame. Tears were cascading down her face as a smile formed from ear to ear.

"R...Ronnie, thank the Gods!" she almost sang as she wrapped him in a surprisingly strong hug.

"Kitty…can't…breath!" he choked out as he was violently squeezed by the petite girl.

Kitty dropped her arms and took a step back looking a bit embarrassed "sorry Ron, it's just been so long, and we heard on the news…." She looked into his eyes and smiled "but that's all in the past, why don't you come in? I know Kain will be happy to see you!"

Ron smiled back at her and nodded "Sure…but first can you tell me why my parents aren't home?"

"They left last night for a POW/MIA support group camping trip, they won't be back until tomorrow night" at saying this she grabbed his hand and almost dragged him into the house.

"Oh" was the only thing Ron could reply thinking to himself "that answers my question about the military notice!"

The inside of the house looked the same as it had 4 years ago when he left. Instead of a living room proper, there were four small tables to represent the four cardinal directions. On each table there were two statues, one to represent a god the other to represent a goddess. Various other tools lay on the small tables.

What caught Ron's eye was the small picture of him and Kitty and Kain's father sitting on the table facing the East. The picture was walled in by white and blue candles with an eye shaped pendant tied to it.

Ron was about to ask what that was all about when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from upstairs. He spun to see his second best friend, Kain Konzelman, standing at the top of the stairs with a small smirk on his face.

"Kitsune Cassandra Konzelman, do you have to bring in every street ruffian you find?"

Kitty jumped at her full name and turned on her brother "Sweet Isis Kain….you scared the life out of me!"

Ron had to hold himself up on the door frame he was laughing so hard at the two. When his mirth passed he looked up at Kain "it's good to see you too man."

Kain walked down the stairs slowly, his dirty blonde hair tightly braided hung down to the small of his back. His golden brown eyes locked on his life long friend as he descended the stairs; upon reaching the bottom he clapped Ron on the shoulder pulling him into a tight hug.

"We never gave up hope, not even when we got the letter about dad…" he squeezed Ron a little tighter with these words.

When the words left his friends mouth he started to cry, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry you two…I tried to protect him as best I could but…I…I…I failed". His silent sobs turned into full blown weeping as his legs gave out on him.

Kitty knelt down behind Ron, pulling him from her brothers' grasp to hold him and stroke his hair soothingly. "Shhhhh, its ok Ron", the tears rolling freely down her face as she soothed the broken man she held. "There was nothing you could have done, we don't blame you."

Ron fell back from her grasp at these words, anger evident in his voice.

"It's my fault he's dead!" his voice rising as he backed up further.

"IT'S MY FAULT THERE ALL DEAD!" his body shaking with pent up anger and anguish.

"IF I HAD JUST TOLD THEM WHAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW, YOU'RE FATHER AND SIX OTHER GOOD MEN WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!"

Ron wasn't ready for the slap that Kitty hit him with, he sat there stunned looking at the girl he had known sense she was born. Her features were filled anger but her voice was as calm as the look on her brothers' face.

"That is Bullshit Ronald Dean Stoppable, and you know it! Those men would have rather died then you give up TS information to the enemy!" Her piercing ice blue eyes digging into him with every word.

Ron responded with a ghost of a whisper, "I know, but it doesn't help ease the pain any." And he broke down into uncontrollable weeping once again.

Both siblings embraced there crying friend for what seemed like hours, letting him cry on there shoulders until he finally stopped. The room was silent except for the sound of hands rubbing Ron's back.

Kain was the first to break the silence as he held Ron at arms length.

"Well…they say that talking about your problems helps ease the pain" he gave a small encouraging smile before continuing.

"Why not confide in us what happened to you over in Iraq….we'd also like to know what exactly happened to our father."

Ron looked between his two friends, and at the tears that threatened to fall. He moved over the kitchen table and took a seat before sighing.

"Yeah, ok….it's the least I can do."

AN: I'd just like to thank everyone who's given me feedback on this story...it's my first one and i didn't think anyone would like it...Gods bless you all!