Shocked

Disclaimer: If wishes were horses I'd own Kim Possible, but they aren't and I don't.

Chapter Fourteen: The Diablo's are Evil!

Ron's POV

"Thanks Mrs. Dr. P." Ron said as Kim's mom scooped food onto his plate. Kim's parents had insisted that Ron come over for dinner that night claiming that they needed to make up time for when Kim had been dating Monkey. Of course now he had to put up with pretty boy, but at least now he had a mission to get him through the night.

Ron was planning on stating in no uncertain terms what would happen to Eric if he hurt Kim. Regardless of who he thought Kim should be with she was still his best friend and he owed it to her to look out for her. Though first he'd have to pry them apart, Kim and Eric were joking with each other meaning that by and large they were oblivious to the world.

Dinner ended up an awkward affair to put it mildly, Ron, the Dr's P, and the twins were unable to maintain any kind of conversation with Kim and Eric at the other end of the table. Ron almost would have preferred Monkey to this, at least he and Kim had just dropped everything, not forcing everyone else to endure the sappiness firsthand.

Time did progress though however slowly, and eventually dinner was finished Ron having cleared his plate several times. Kim excused herself to go to the bathroom and Ron knew his opportunity had come. Grabbing Eric by the shoulder he dragged him out of the kitchen and into the Possible's living room. There, despite being an inch shorter than the man Ron prepared to threaten him within an inch of his life.

"So," Eric said, "did you want to talk to me about something dragging me out here like this?"

Ron just narrowed his eyes, "Just a question, did Mr. Dr. P and the twins talk to you yet?"

"Yeah," Eric chuckled, "Kim's dad said something about black holes and her brothers had some really impressive sparking things going on."

Ron stepped his glare up to full force making pretty boy step back, "Eric, they were deadly serious and so am I, what they'll do to you is only a hundredth of what I'll do to you if I hear you hurt Kim, she's my best friend and I'm not going to let anyone hurt her. Don't believe me, just ask Mankey about 'Swirly Command.'"

Eric looked slightly taken aback and held up his hands as he said, "Hey look, I didn't know there was anything going on between you and Kim. You should have said something, because I didn't mean to get between you two."

Now it was Ron's turn to be taken aback with shock, "It's not like that," he paused thinking exactly of what to say, "Look, I don't love Kim, well I love her… but I'm not in love with her. She's like the sister I never got to have. That plus the fact that she's been my best friend since forever and a day means I want to take darn good care of her and I won't just stand back while she gets her heart broken."

Eric looked almost relieved and he sounded very much at ease as he said, "Well it's a good thing that I'm not going to do anything like that. I'm new here and meeting a girl like Kim is something I don't wanna blow. I don't have some great big flow chart or something to prove it, but please just trust me when I say I'll take care of her."

Ron glared a moment more before sighing, turning and saying, "Kim can do what she wants and I won't try to stop her, but remember just one tear and there is nowhere on this planet you can hide from me."

With that Ron walked out of the room thanked the Possibles for having him over for dinner and left for home. The last thing he heard before the door shut was Kim asking Eric how he'd gotten to the living room and if he'd like to come up and see her room.

The next day after school found Ron and Bonnie standing outside Bueno Nacho with identical looks of shock on their faces. The place was full of screaming kids and stressed out parents. All the children were running around waving little red and yellow Little Diablo toys over their heads.

"We're getting this to go right," Bonnie said quietly as they walked into the restaurant.

"You had to ask?" Ron replied just as quietly as the pair got in line.

"I wasn't asking," Bonnie growled, "we ARE getting this to go."

"Yeah, I know," Ron said rather absentmindedly.

His lack of response to her anger made Bonnie blink in surprise, normally Ron would have been all over himself to agree with Bonnie when she let her temper simmer, but he didn't even seem to notice it.

"Ron, are you alright?" Bonnie asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Huh, oh yeah," Ron decided that he should talk with his co-conspirator about what had been plaguing him since last night, and if they were going to make whatever this was between them work he also owed it to Bonnie to talk about this.

Grabbing her hand Ron made sure to focus his attention on the brunette next to him, "I've just been thinking about some things, let's get this stuff to go and we'll talk about it wherever we decide to eat."

Bonnie just squeezed his hand, but she didn't drop the look of concern, nor did she let go of his hand. Neither of which Ron was about to complain to her for doing.

Twenty minutes later Ron and Bonnie were sitting at a picnic bench in Middleton Park sharing chimmeritos, sadly for Ron the new management at Bueno Nacho had indeed discontinued the Naco.

"So," Bonnie said swallowing a bite, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well," Ron pushed his own food to one side of his mouth, "I've been wondering if maybe we're wrong about Kim and Tara liking each other. Kim seems pretty happy with Eric, I mean not acting happy but really happy."

Bonnie frowned but Ron knew she thought he had a point, "But they seemed so obvious, after Kim kissed Tara that one day they just seemed to drift towards each other, and they seemed so happy when they thought they were going to prom together, it just doesn't make sense."

Ron almost laughed before talking, before befriending Bonnie he would have never been able to read people like this and now here he was lecturing the master, "Think about it Bonnie, Tara hasn't been on a date all year, and maybe she was just looking for someone, anyone, that she could feel attracted to and then Kim goes and plants one on her. And I know Kim better than anyone, she was a lot more shaken up by Josh breaking up with her than she let on, I wouldn't be surprised if she was still rebounding when she and Tara made that deal."

"Ok, that explains Kim," Bonnie was speaking very thoughtfully, "But I still don't see why Tara isn't genuinely attracted to her."

"Because," Ron made sure to look Bonnie right in the eye, "Tara wasn't in love, she was in love with the idea of being in love. And when Kim kissed her on the total rebound from Monkey and when she was still wildly panicking that I wasn't going to be her friend anymore, it meant that Tara fell in love with the idea of being in love with Kim."

Bonnie just stared at him, "God Ron, do you have any idea how much like me you sounded just then, it was scary. But you do have a point, darn my logic."

Ron felt a frown creep onto his face, he didn't like where this was going anymore than Bonnie, but it had to be done. "So then what do we do, Kim's already off on her next adventure into wonderland. But Tara is getting left behind and I don't see how this has a happy ending."

Bonnie frowned deeply and her voice was almost sad as she said, "One of the things I learned very early on from my sisters is that life doesn't always have a happy ending, just less unhappy ones. I'll talk to Tara, I'm the best friend and if anyone is going to break her heart like this it's going to be me. Before I go though, can we just sit here awhile, I really don't want to do this."

Ron silently got up from his side of the table, walked around and wrapped an arm around Bonnie's shoulders as he sat down next to her to which she simply laid her head on his shoulder, "Sure Bonnie," he whispered, "Sure."

Bonnie's POV

Bonnie stood in front of Tara's house, hand hovering over the doorbell, she really did not want to do this but she had run out of time. Bonnie hadn't just put off this talk for that evening she had spent with Ron in the park, she had put it off for several days now, long enough that she had to do this in an hour if she was going to make it back to her house in time to get ready for prom.

Finally she let her thumb come down on the buzzer and she heard it sound throughout the house. It wasn't long before Tara opened the door, Bonnie had called earlier and said that she wanted to talk to her friend. Steeling herself for what she was about to do, Bonnie followed Tara out to the blonde's back-yard.

The two finally sat down under a pine tree that had already been as tall as Tara's house when they had first met. It had in the years since been a sort of retreat for the two, a reminder that however big their problems were things would go on and they were insignificant in the world.

However as they grew older and Bonnie fell into her role as queen bee of the high school she had grown to see the tree as a reminder of her naïve years, something to be forgotten and swept under the carpet. She almost asked Tara to do this anywhere else for fear of destroying a friendship nearly as old as Kim and Ron, but in the end Bonnie decided that maybe a reminder of how long they had been friends would be what got Tara to listen to her.

Even so it still took Bonnie almost 5 minutes of sitting there watching the clouds drift past before she worked up the courage to start the inevitable talk. "So Tara how have you been?" Bonnie decided she was far better off easing into this topic than being blunt like a sledge hammer.

"I'm alright," Tara sounded anything but, "I suppose I'm a little sad I spent a whole bunch of money on a dress I'm not going to get to use, but it was still fun shopping for it."

Bonnie held her sigh in check, it seemed like she was going to get into this a lot earlier than she had hoped. "About all that," Bonnie spoke slowly, "Tara, is it really that bad that Kim is going to prom with Eric?"

"Well no," Tara spoke just as slowly, "It's just that we didn't have prom dates, and then we were going to make the whole thing a girls night out, try and drop as many jaws as we could. And then along came Eric, it just felt like everything we'd done up to that point meant nothing."

Bonnie studied Tara before speaking again well aware that she was treading an incredibly fine line. "Look, I don't know what's going on between Ron and me, but he hasn't changed anything about us being best friends. Kim and Ron are still best friends after everything that's happened this year, Eric's not going to change what you and Kim are about."

"He already has," Tara said so quietly Bonnie had to repeat it in her head to make sure she had heard right.

"Tara…" she started.

"I just feel like everyone's moving on without me," Tara kept going like she hadn't even heard Bonnie, "Kim started dating Josh, who I'd had a crush on. Then you started going on missions with Ron, and after you two were hurt and had that fight you two were closer than he and Kim had ever been, and I'd had a crush on Ron too. It was just that everyone I knew was moving on with someone, and every time it happened it felt like I had one less person to move on with. And then Kim and Josh broke up, and there was that day in the cafeteria, and I… I…" But Tara was obviously unable to continue.

"It's alright," Bonnie tried to speak as kindly as she could, "even Ron could see there was something up with you two, I figured it out awhile ago."

"Well then why did you wait so long to end our friendship?" Tara looked as down as Bonnie had ever seen her.

"You've got to be kidding me," Bonnie scoffed, "I wouldn't stop being your friend for something like that. Didn't I tell you once that for all I cared you could date Kim, because I stand by that. But I have to ask you something, do you really like Kim?"

Tara almost bristled as she said, "I! I, I…" Deflating almost as fast as she'd built herself up Tara mumbled, "Yes?"

Bonnie knew she'd hate herself in the morning but she pressed on, "Tara, you said so yourself that you felt like everyone was moving on, and Ron said that Kim probably took Monkey breaking up with her a lot harder than she let any of us see. Now whatever you do I'll still be your friend, but don't you think it's possible that you were both just looking for a port in a storm?"

Both of them refused to meet the others gaze as Tara spoke, "I was just so sure, it just felt…"

"Listen to me Tara," Bonnie cut her friend off, "I managed to convince myself on occasion that I was dating the jock of the week because I really liked him and not because it was what I was supposed to do. I'm sure it's nothing so shallow, but did you just want to like someone and didn't really care who it was?"

"Maybe," Tara was still looking at the ground, "I don't know, this whole year has been so confusing, I just need time to myself to think this all through."

Bonnie slowly got to her feet knowing she'd done what she needed to however miserable she felt right now. Before going she said, "Tara I just want you to know that whatever you decide I'll still be your friend, Ron will still be your friend, more people than you'd think won't think any differently of you. Just make sure that whatever you decide you thought it through with your head."

And then Bonnie left through the side gate feeling about as low as she'd ever felt, at the moment she didn't even think that prom with Ron being only a few hours away could perk her sprits up.

Ron's POV

Ron finished tying up his bowtie and slung his jacket over his shoulder, "So how do I look?" He asked of Rufus who was standing on his desk. The naked mole rat hopped from the desk, scurried up his arm and straightened the tie, then hopping back onto the desk Rufus gave him the once over before giving him the thumbs up and squeaking, "Good!"

"Booyah," Ron smiled, "let's go get Bonnie and then we show off our bon-diggity moves at prom."

Rufus climbed up onto his shoulder, the blue tux pants not having large enough pockets for him to ride in. Ron walked downstairs, ran the gauntlet of his parents snapping pictures of their little boy all grown up and groaned out that he would ask Bonnie's parents for copies of the pictures they took of them. Finally outside Ron hopped onto his scooter, strapped on his helmet and with Rufus still riding tall and proud on his shoulder set off for Bonnie's house.

Along the way he made a stop at the same flower shop he'd visited the night he and Bonnie had that fight, this time though it was with much happier thoughts in his head. Ron was there to pick up the corsage for Bonnie, she hadn't actually let him see the dress she was wearing tonight but she had told him to get a corsage that was blue, so said box now in the scooters storage compartment he set off once more towards Bonnie's house.

Several minutes later he pulled his scooter up to Bonnie's house, as he got off he marveled at how clean his baby looked. Ron had somehow talked Bonnie into letting him drive them to prom, even knowing that his parents wouldn't let him borrow their car. That being the case Ron had buckled down and cleaned his scooter till it could only be called spit-shiny clean, the seat leather glistened, the plastic shell shined, and the headlight would actually light.

"Ok little buddy," Ron said, "stay here and man the scooter, I'll be back in a few minutes with Bonnie." Rufus saluted smartly and adopted his watchdog position on the scooter seat. Ron chuckled and walked up to ring the doorbell. The door opened and Bonnie's mother was standing there positively beaming.

"Come in Ronald!" she squealed, "Bon-Bon should be down in a few minutes." Turning around she shouted up the stairs, "Bon-Bon! Your date is here!" Turning back to Ron she went on a in a quieter voice, "Bonnie's father isn't here tonight, but he told me to give you this."

She handed Ron a white envelope with his name on it, Ron opened it and pulled out a letter with only a few words written on it, "Hurt her and die." Ron had found out rather quickly that Bonnie got her temper from her father and clearly Mr. Rockwaller was not at all excited about the prospect of anyone taking his little girl to prom.

Then he heard footsteps coming down the stairs, he turned to see Bonnie come down the stairs and his brain promptly ceased to function. Bonnie's dress was pretty much the same color as his tux, having a loose but not puffy skirt ending just above her ankles. What really killed Ron's higher brain functions was that it not only had a very low back, but the sleeveless design showed off her shoulders very well. Cut low enough in the front to entice without seeming degrading and with her makeup and accessories just right, Ron thanked any higher powers that might be listening for his still standing.

"Wow," he managed to muster the brain power to get out. Bonnie just smiled and walked down the rest of the stairs Ron staring mechanically the whole way. She got down the last step and walked over to him, whispering as she stopped, "thanks, you look nice too Ron."

Ron stammered for a response, but before he could get anything out Bonnie's mother had smushed them together and the camera was merrily flashing away. They took individual pictures, pictures together, she even made them take one as Ron pinned the corsage on Bonnie, which thankfully involved no blood spilt by either of them.

Finally extricating themselves from the terrible team of Bonnie's mother and her camera, they walked out to where Rufus continued to diligently guard Ron's scooter. "Sorry about that," Bonnie said, "my mom should be classified as a natural disaster when she's behind a camera."

"It's alright," Ron handed her a helmet, "One dose of Ronshine later and you'll forget all about it."

Bonnie laughed softly, "Well if I need some Ronshine to get over mom's pictures then you'll need a dose of Bonshine, but we'll make it past this."

"Ronshine and Bonshine," Ron said as they started motoring towards the high school, "There's nothing that can stand up to that."

Prom was loud, Ron could say that much, well that and he had a date he never thought he'd have a chance with. Even a few months ago Ron would have never thought he'd have any hope of going to prom with Bonnie, but here he was. Sitting out this dance after the last few dances watching Kim dance with… Eric. Kim could date who she wanted, Ron admitted that, but by no means did he have to like it. Even if he was no longer sure that Kim and Tara liked each other, the idea of those two still settled in his stomach immeasurably easier than Kim and Eric.

Bonnie must have noticed his discomfort because she scooted closer to him, "Having a bit of a guilt trip too huh." Ron took a drink of his punch, "I guess so, it's just Tara isn't even here and I can't help feeling at least a little bit responsible for it."

"I feel more responsible," Bonnie grabbed Ron's punch, "even worse I was the one who started our whole get Kim and Tara together thing."

"This is stupid," Ron stood up, "we moped all day about this and told ourselves we'd have a great time. Now let's get out there and dance."

He took Bonnie's hand and they started walking towards the dance floor, but as they were walking by the table where Kim had left her purse Ron could have sworn he heard the Kimmunicator go off. "Wait a second," he told Bonnie as he walked over to the table to see if Wade wanted anything.

"And what are you doing checking Kim's purse?" Bonnie said from behind him. "I thought I heard the Kimmunicator go off." At Bonnie's glare Ron sheepishly went on, "I didn't bring mine, I mean these pockets are so small."

Bonnie opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything the doors flew open and Tara burst in screaming with a look of terror on her face, "The Diablo's are evil!"

AN: First off, the concept of "Bonshine," I heartily give credit to AtomicFire for that one. Now the chapter, I have a love/hate relationship with this chapter, I love how it wrote itself, but God I hate myself for writing it. I'm looking forward to the next chapter if only because it gets past this part in the movie. As to the future, I've put this off long enough. I plan on writing a few one shots that have collected in my head over the course of writing this story and then the next big one. I've got two possibilities right now, the better formed one is another Ron/Bon, the downside being it's again mean to Kim. The other story being Kim/Ron which would soothe my conscience, but it's less formed in my head. But that's the future, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to next one.