Disclaimer: I do not own Disney or anything; I borrowed from other media.

CHP 6: End of the first date

*current at the mall*

While the three girls were having their girl time, Ron patiently waited for them to return hoping that Kim and Monique wouldn't harass Tara too much about their current date. While waiting, this allows Ron time to think about him and Tara spending time together today.

Ron had to admit that he was surprised to know that Tara had certain things in common with him and how down to earth, something he never thought would be the case with her being best friends with Bonnie. Speaking of Bonnie, Tara hasn't mentioned her at all nor seen any signs of her since what took place on the bus yesterday.

"I probably should ask Tara how she been holding up. Regardless if she wants to talk about it or not, I think that would be inconsiderate not at least to acknowledge it. Heck if something like that occurs between Kp and me, it would be nice for someone to check on me about the situation."

Making a mental note to address the Bonnie conversation, Ron looks up to see Tara return with Kim and Monique with the three laughing at something.

"Everything okay ladies?" Ron asks the three girls with Tara walking up to him with a shy smile and wraps her arm around his.

"Yes Ron, though Kim here has some news to share with you." Ron turns to Kim with concern on his mind wondering what going on with Kim. "Oh really? What's up Kp?"

Kim hesitates for a moment before telling Ron the news. "Before we ran into you two, Monique and I were hanging out and of course shopping at Club Banana. To my surprise, Josh Mankey walk up to me and to make a long story short we going on a date tonight."

Ron blinks a few times processing what he just heard until he brings out that signature smile of his towards Kim. "Wow, congrats Kp, and just not too long ago you were scared to ask him to the dance." He jokes with her remembering how Kim would freeze up anytime Josh would be in her sights at school.

Kim groans at how girlish she acted back then. "Don't bring that up." She shakes her head, getting a good laugh from the others. Eventually, Monique reminds Kim that they need to get ready for her date tonight, causing the four to say their goodbyes, leaving Ron and Tara still at the mall.

Tara could tell that Ron hearing the news somewhat bother him, by the way, his expression change when Kim left them. "You want to talk about it?" Tara inquiries.

"Talk about what Tara?" Ron wasn't sure what she meant by that question.

"The whole Kim and Josh thing. I know you not a huge fan of him because of the whole last name is one letter close to the word monkey." Tara explains hoping that is the only reason why Ron felt negative towards his best friend dating the famous artist.

Ron's eyes go wide from Tara knowing about that. "How do you know about I felt that way about him?"

"I overheard you telling Kim that one day in the hallway. That was during my supposedly get you to notice me days." Tara blushes a bit, for she didn't want to come across as a stalker.

Thankfully for Tara, that was the last thing Ron thought when it comes to the blond. "Luckily for me I notice you now, and yeah I made not be a huge fan of his, but I know Kim want to date him so if she's happy I'm happy."

Not realizing his answer reassures Tara of the idea of Ron having feelings for Kim, he receives a quick kiss on the cheek for his response. "That's very mature of you Ron."

Ron rubs the back his neck saying, "I have my moments." before he looks into her eyes. "You know what else makes me happy?"

"No, what?" Tara asks curiously looking back at him.

"Getting to know you and being around you makes me happy," Ron admits with a warm smile. As he was thinking earlier, he enjoys Tara's company and hopes whatever it is that's developing between the two continues to grow.

At that moment, a huge smile appears on Tara's face, feeling touch by what she just heard. "Aww Ron you are so sweet. You make me happy too Ron, and I hope we can continue to get to know each other."

Ron nods in agreement before receiving a romantic kiss on the lips by Tara. "So what should we do now?" She asks after the couple pulls away from the kiss.

"I have no idea since it's not night time yet, but regardless as long as I'm with you, I am fine with whatever." Ron winks getting a giggle out of Tara. Suddenly, an idea pops into his head on what the two could do before their date end.

"Maybe we could go to my house before I take you home. You might be able to meet my parents if they are there." Ron suggests since he already met Tara's mom.

Tara beams with excitement. "That would be great if I can meet them." With the plan settled, Ron and Tara leave the mall and head to his house on his bike. Tara couldn't help but have a lot of mix emotions going through her mind.

She feels nervous because she has no idea how Ron's parents are like or if they will like her at all. Then there's the thought of being in Ron's room was alone if it happens. Now, usually, Tara wouldn't have ideas like this, though there were times she has hot dreams of Ron, now that she and Ron are finally getting closer she can't help but think that way. Granted she knows she is not ready to go all the way, unlike Bonnie, who has with Brick but doesn't mean she wouldn't want to have some fun with him. That will be a conversation she will most likely will have with Ron to see how he feels.

"Curse these hormones of mine." She thinks to herself before they arrive at his place.

*Ron's house*

Ron and Tara enter the room with Ron calling out to see if his parents are home. Turns out as he goes to check the messages on their house phone that instead of coming home for their trip today they actually won't be back until sometime tomorrow on Sunday.

"Great they would be gone on the day I wanted you to meet them," Ron growls slightly in frustration. He shouldn't be too surprise anyways considering how his parents are barely around or part of his life, heck Kim's parents treats him more like a son.

Tara could tell that Ron is bothered by this and attempts to cheer him up. "Maybe I could catch them before I head home."

Ron shakes his head at her. "You wouldn't be able to because they are not coming back from their trip until tomorrow."

"I'm sorry Ron." Tara apologizes while looking down sadly.

"It's okay I'm pretty much used to them being away like this." Ron shrugs, leading her to the living room to sit on the couch.

"What do you mean?" Tara questions, hoping that he will open up to her.

Ron takes a deep breath to talk about his relationship with his parents. "Honestly Tara I don't have that much of a relationship with my parents if anything Kim's parents treat me more like a son than my own does. My mom works for a bank, and my dad is an Actuary, an excellent one to where he can travel and still pay the bills with how much money he makes. Because of their jobs, my parents are mostly busy to the point where I think sometimes they forget that I even exist."

Hearing this information stuns Tara, for she never would of guess that Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable would go that often without spending time with their son.

"Oh Ron, I hate that you feel that way because you do exist and for them to treat you like you don't isn't right." She tries comforting him.

Ron sighs not realizing he was entering that negative place that not even Kim knows about. The place where even though he comes across happy carefree, deals with an inevitable depression that comes and goes when he starts feeling worthless.

"I don't know Tara it's bad enough that at school people consider me the lowest of the food chain aka the loser, my parents are barely around to actually motivate me to do better in school, or when they are around they always suggest stuff and never ask me how I feel about it, and on missions most of the villains Kim and I face or the people we have saved don't even remember my name. Honestly, and Kim doesn't even know this about me recently, I act as the treatment I get from Bonnie, most of the students at the school, and my parents don't bother me, but at times it does to where it gets to me, and I go into that dark place..." Ron stops his self from going further, reminding his self that this was his problem to deal with and not Tara's.

As Ron tries to open up to her the best he can, Tara processes everything he said. "Oh my gosh, I never would have thought that Ron deals with depression. He's so carefree at school and the fact that Kim doesn't know... wait he trying to confide in me, and I am over here freaking out, that could be the reason why he hasn't told Kim. Well, I told myself if I could have one chance with Ron I will take it and if Ron and I are to grow closer I need to prove to him that he can open up to me and that he doesn't have to face his problems alone."

Meanwhile, Ron finishes his rant by saying, "Face it, Tara, I wasn't worth you losing your friendship with..." Suddenly out of nowhere, Tara gives Ron a tight loving hug, causing him to stop talking and wonder why the sudden action from her.

"Tara?" Ron went from feeling down to confused by the way Tara was hugging him for he tries to pull away only for her to tighten her grip on him.

"Shhh just let me hold you right now." Tara command in a very soft tone.

Ron does as he told slowly feels his arms wrap around her waist and embracing the love and comfort that came through Tara. For Ron, being held like this felt, different compared to his hugs with Kim. Ro wasn't sure if it was because he hasn't told Kim what he deals with or was it because of theirs more to Tara that he has yet realized.

"Do you feel safe?" Tara whispers in his ear, not moving from her position.

Hearing her whisper since a chill down his spine before he can respond to her. "In a way, yes I do."

Tara smiles at this before softly telling him, "That's how I want you to feel anytime you are dealing with the darkness. I want to be the person you can open up to so you don't have to keep those negative emotions inside to where you could blow up. Lastly, us to be more than friends for I want to be that girl that makes you happy, always be at your side, and make you feel special because you are Ron especially to me."

Ron, stunned by her response, soaks in everything Tara said with his heart beating slightly faster. He started getting these dark moments sometime after his first encounter with Monkey Fist, his supposedly rival and being exposed to the mystical monkey energy. Knowing how Kim can get sometimes, Ron chose to not reveal this information to her or anyone and does his best to handle it on own.

"How do you feel Ron?" Tara asks in concern noticing the lack of response from her last statement.

Ron snaps out of his thoughts and looks up into her beautiful teal eyes. "I like you Tara, and I want to open up to you. I don't want to burden you with my issues, or you see me as someone you wouldn't want to be with." He turns a bit feeling scared of the idea that his problems would drive Tara away just as his feelings for her have grown.

It pains Tara to see Ron down like this. Gently, she takes him by his chin to have him back face to face with her. "You won't be a burden nor will you scare me off, Ron. You have to let me in to prove that to you otherwise."

Feeling tears forming, Ron does his best to fight them. "I will try, though it might take some time for me to open up entirely."

Tara dries his tears with a warm smile and rubs the side of his face saying, "Take as much time as you need, I'm not going anywhere," before leaning in and giving him a very passionate kiss that lets him know that he no longer has the face this obstacle alone.

TBC

AU: The Ron issue will be addressed more throughout the story but in a somewhat slow burn that relates to his MMP. The plan for this is to follow the show but more of AU with the focus more on Ron and Tara, then Kim. Also, I want to take the time to say thank you all that follow, favorite, and review this story and sorry for the long wait but with school and work you already know.