Birth, and Rebirth 00: My Eyes Adored You Chapter 6: 5: You couldn’t see…, a kim possible fanfic

Birth, and Rebirth 00: My Eyes Adored You

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: Kim Possible Characters © the Walt Disney Company, USA. The original lyrics to the songs referenced in this story and the music are the property of the respective authors, artists and labels. All other characters can be blamed on the author (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions at all times, being barely responsible for himself most of the time).

This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.

Enjoy! Please read and review.

A/N Forward:

This began as a thought in both the heads of cpneb and kt (of jakt). A few phone calls, some emails, and the idea came brought forth into production.

(Pandaroo, laughing) And, I helped!

This joint project between cpneb and jakt is the direct result of the request from a certain eleven year old; resistance was futile, indeed, as one simple question became the opening of the Birth, and Rebirth arc. She's twelve, now, and resistance is laughed at….

cpneb will present the main story line, while jakt will presents other major components of the story as it is told.

"Let the adventure continue…."

And, now, Birth, and Rebirth 00: My Eyes Adored You:

Chapter 5 - You couldn't see…

Kim's bedroom had an unusual eerie quietness about it as Ron waited for her to return from her date with Eric. He had noticed, over the past few days, that Kim was taking longer to respond to the missions that they were being called in on, and to him it was Kim's preoccupation with Eric that was to blame.

The past days were among some of the very few times that Ron had actually been ready to go before her, and that was really bothering him. He sat, nervously drumming his fingers on her desk as he waited. Finally, after 10 minutes, he decided to just toss himself onto the top of Kim's bed. It was something he knew he shouldn't do, but he needed to be with her right now, and this was the next best thing.

The magnificence of the multi-hued setting sun filling her room was amazing, and the darkness had started to settle covering everything like a cloak. A stray unfamiliar breeze chose to waft through the bedroom's open window, gently blowing her curtains and seemingly calling out to him.

The still quietness, in an odd way, almost seemed to whisper to him every second he laid there. The smell of Kim coming from her bedcovers was overwhelming to his senses and he reveled in it. His defenses were down: he was exposed like an open book waiting to be read.

He turned on his side in the darkness, his own heavy breathing filling up the silence and drying out his throat. The blackness of the night all around him was complete, stifling, and he was afraid. It wasn't a normal fear, like his fear of monkeys or bugs or the pain of Shego blasting away at him…or even dying. It came from a source he couldn't identify.

And, it kept coming…

When he couldn't push it back any longer, he began to struggle, but he couldn't move. He felt paralyzed by his own emotions. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. His throat was really dry now, his voice frozen. This wasn't fear: it was panic! He was all too familiar with the sensation, especially with Kim dating Eric, and the sensation it was literally killing him.

His mouth felt parched, like a thirsty man searching for water, hours on end, in the relentless heat of a summer desert, and he wondered how long it had been since he'd had anything to drink. Then, the panic tugged at him again, taunting him, restraining him. He felt the breaths in his chest begin to increase and he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting for all he was worth.

"Breathe, slowly," he whispered to himself in the harsh nothingness. "Just breathe. Don't think." All of a sudden why did he feel like he was drowning?

'Sunlight. Bright and streaming. Sunlight and heat,' he thought to himself to suppress the feeling but all that came was the same ol', same ol' thoughts of "water rising, water rising."

'stop, Stop, STOP!' Each word came out louder in his mind than the one before it, a desperate plea to himself. There was only one way to make it stop, to make it go away. 'KP...help...'

He wished for a sound, a voice, something…but only the profound silence washed over him like an ocean wave and then buried him beneath its embrace.

"Yahweh, help me."

'He looks so lost,' Pandaroo thought, reminding himself that this sitch was culminating into a seriously low point in Ron's life. Pandaroo had seen it coming for quite some time, and there was nothing he could do to help. But then, observations, sometimes, weren't a bad thing if you are a fiber-filled animal. For a Cuddle Buddy, if you worked hard at it, you could actually store those feelings and points of view and then channel them to someone else: something Pandaroo had mastered with Kim long ago. He absorbed all of Ron's feelings, mixing them with Kim's. For now, he would keep those feelings to himself.

Added to this point was that Roo also knew that Ron was fretting over asking Kim to the prom. Not because she would say no, but because it revealed certain "Ron type" emotions targeted towards her. Naturally, he was afraid to publicly express how he felt. Whether it was happiness, anger, sadness or even love, Ron felt that expressing his emotions to Kim would be viewed as even more weaknesses added to the ones he'd already shared with her. Even if it was a simple task of just asking, he feared putting it into words to her was more than he could bear. It was indeed something that made him feel inadequate and uncomfortable, and Pandaroo felt the angst of turmoil building inside Ron's heart.

Ron felt something change, but he could not understand what: Roo channeled a small part of Kim's feelings for Ron that he had stored into Ron. Feelings that were for him, "Ron Stoppable". Feelings that had grown over time as Roo accumulated them from Kim. Then, Roo smiled inside as something remarkable happened.

For a moment, in his mind, Ron now saw Kim lying in his arms, her head pillowed on his chest. He could feel the gentle motion of her breathing, lulling him into security, but he knew she wasn't really there so he picked up Pandaroo and placed him on his chest. Ron's breathing was slowed now, and was almost methodical as Pandaroo listened to his heart and his breathing both return to normal.

"Roo, you should have seen the look in her eyes as she and Eric touched hands and their eyes met. There was a sudden silence, and you could feel the heat generated between them; and I knew that their hearts leapt in a giddy whirl for each other. It was the saddest day of my life."

I could feel my heart break for him, as I thought 'am I the only one that sees that you and Kim belong together?' But there was another one that echoed those thoughts.

Dr. Anne Possible stood outside of Kim's bedroom door. She didn't mean to eaves drop on him. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time and, as she continued to listen, tears began to well up and then graciously flowed from her dreamy blue eyes.

Her heart nearly broke for this young man as she saw the depth of emotions pouring out of him; she knew that he truly and unconditionally loved her daughter. She realized now that Ron knew Kim's heart better than she knew it herself. Why couldn't Kim see that? Why was the food chain playing such a dominant role in her life, right now?? It made no sense to her why Kim was so blind to what was going on.

Ron was tired, his sated body drained of every last ounce of energy. Still, he waited and continued to soak up the sounds and sensations her room offered. He continued to talk to Pandaroo…

"KP, you are my first and best friend. I need to be with you, and I need you to remind me I'm a human being. I'm not a zero, but, sometimes, I forget. My mind dips away into my world of fears and holds me hostage, refusing to let me know that the only thing I really care about is being with you.

"When we're together, the sound of your breathing lets me know you're real and not some figment of my desperate imagination. Your arms hold me secure, even in my dreamland, and I can feel you sleeping sometimes.

"Do you dream about me, Kim, like I dream about you?" Ron smiled a weak smile.

"Without you, holding me in my dreams, the nights are cold and lonely. I love you, KP. I just wish I could tell you."

Outside, an orchestra of crickets began to serenade him. The intensity of their performance heralded the beginning of summer. However, their sound suddenly vanished as fast as he knew summer would end. He wished he could say something to her now. The message that he wanted to convey was there in his heart, but he just couldn't seem to translate or release it.

In the distance, he could hear a train, chugging its way to parts unknown. The whistle echoed eerily in the new silence, like a phantom on the wind.

"I remember, a few summers ago, you told me you used to like walking the tracks when you were a kid, said it gave you a sense of freedom and endless possibilities from the drama of Middle School. You were reminiscing, with sadness, as I listened to your tale. I wanted to cry for all the pain that Bonnie was causing you to go through in cheer practice and the loneliness you felt. I couldn't let you see what was on my mind, but I think you knew anyway.

"Sometimes, I wish we couldn't read each other's minds so well. But that would be pretending to be blind, wouldn't it? Making believe things were the way we wanted them, instead of how they are.

"Does that mean things aren't the way we want...if so, tell me how you want them. I would not love you any less. It seems hard to believe that anyone would wish away the greatest thing to ever happen to them. Would you like me to love you less, KP?

"I don't want to love you any less. With you, I can get, in a day, the same thing it would take me ten years to get with anyone else. The joy I find in you, however long it lasts, will always be equal to several lifetimes of loving anyone else. I'm lucky and I know it. You are my best friend."

"I love you." He whispered into the stillness of the night, still feeling as he often did, that his declaration, no matter how heartfelt, was not nearly sufficient to express himself.

"You didn't believe me the first time I told you in my dreams." He told himself, raising his hand to her imagined face to gently touch the area where he recalled he had cupped her cheek, with so much more than friendship on his mind, for the first time so long ago.

Ron took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, thinking how he always wanted to be able to love Kim with all his heart. It was not surprising, he guessed, that of all the things he still had some difficulty working on…this had always been the hardest…his feelings of love transcending the moment of his fevered imagination to reach out and really touch her and tell her his heart when he lacked the courage to so.

He opened his eyes on that thought, his mind still working him, pushing him towards his inevitable conclusion. He so much wanted to find Kim standing behind him watching his back right now. Watching out for him.

"I love you so much." He whispered again into the darkness. "I will always love you, KP."

Ron heard the front door open and heard two voices downstairs. It was her and Eric returning from their date. Getting up he straightened her bed and placed Pandaroo back where he belonged and turned on the lights. "Roo, I figure it's time to give up trying to say all the things inside of me. It's not coming out the way I wanted, anyway. If I was a poet, I would write KP the most beautiful poetry in the world, everyday. If I was a literary genius, I could make the words on paper jump out and grab her. But I'm only a sidekick who watches her back, who's not very good at the written word. All I can give her is my heart. I want so much to say, no matter what my head is doing, my heart is always loving you."

Anne started downstairs to greet her daughter. Almost reaching the bottom, she stopped and looked at the photo collage on the stairway wall. And, her eyes watered once again. Perhaps Ron wasn't the best-looking guy around, but he always watched out for her daughter, protected her, supported her and, in the end, brought her home safe, like he had promised James, years ago.. For a mother, she could not ask for a greater gift than what Ron had continually given her and Kimberly Ann through the years.

Again her mind returned to her earlier thoughts. 'Kimmy: why are you so blind to Ron's love for you? Why can't you feel his love for you? Why are you letting the food chain and others opinions control you? Kimmy, wake up, before it's too late!'

Eric was different.

At least, that's how Kim felt about him the next morning.

Since the first time she'd seen him in the cafeteria, she'd been crushing on him. There was no other way to describe it. And that crush was growing, exponentially.

She didn't know him well enough to love him yet…not nearly. But, the attraction she felt was undeniable. She couldn't even pass him in the school hallway without feeling her skin go all goose-pimply…

Kim shook herself as she ran her fingers through her auburn hair and sighed.

Why did she feel this way? Did the food chain, according to Bonnie, really make that much of a difference? Why was he interested in her? After all, there were other female teenagers in Middleton High. Lots of them.

Still, she wanted to impress him. To make him respect her, admire her. Heck, to make sure he kept noticing her.

As they passed in the hallway, Kim cleared her throat gently to draw Eric's attention after she made the necessary adjustments to her shirt collar and popping open the top two buttons. As she threw back her hair, his gaze slowly drifted up to hers. His grin increased in less than a second and she suddenly realized that his eyes were now filled with a depth of longing that made her heart…still momentarily, and then ache in sympathy. It was intense, having him look at her this way right now.

In her mind she was seeing him as a rogue one minute and then as the only man who could take her breath away in the next. These emotions were far more intense than she had wanted right now. 'Keep it light,' she told herself. 'Save this for our date tonight. Remember that tonight is meant to help us remember that we can find a way to share feelings for one another, not remind us of what we cannot have right now.'

It was not easy but, for both of their sakes, she forced herself to swallow over the emotion that the last thought inspired, pushing aside the sorrow that threatened to spoil the mood she was hoping for later on.

As the living room clock struck 5:00 pm, Eric knocked on the Possible's door. There ready to greet him were the Doctors P and, of course, James had to give him the curfew lecture and have him promise to have Kimmie home by 10:00 pm. The message was short and sweet. Bring her back home on time and avoid a deep space probe into the nearest black hole. Of course, Eric was already for Kim's father and suggested a 9:30 pm curfew. James was flabbergasted and nodded in agreement. Anne, on the other hand, could only smile. Her thoughts were still with Ron and his confession of his love for Kim from the previous day.

Kim, of course, looked fabulous as she walked down the stairs for their date. She wore her white t-shirt top with the pink heart in the middle, cranberry slacks and tennis shoes for the simple in-the-park dinner date. When she hit the landing her emerald eyes sparkled with expectation and Eric was more than cordial for the sitch. Handing Kim his spare motorcycle helmet, they headed out the door but, almost as an afterthought, he turned to Kim's parents and reassured them that he would have her back home in time.

The hair on the back of Anne's neck started to rise.

Eric just seemed perfect.

Too perfect for her.

The picnic dinner was, indeed, beyond Kim's expectations, as Eric had prepared and provided for everything she could possibly want in advance of their date. There, perfectly displayed on a quilt, were chef salads, fruit salad, fresh croissants, a bottle of a very special sparkling purple grape juice, and, to top it off, Kim's favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Soon stuffed to capacity, Kim suggested a short walk to burn off a few of the excess calories. Eric nodded in agreement. He offered his hand to lift her up, ever the perfect gentleman, and Kim accepted graciously. As she arose there was an electricity of emotion that flowed between them or was it something else. Right now it didn't matter.

Holding hands as they walked left, Kim was lost in a euphoria that sent her heart soaring and it continued building until they reached one of her favorite spots to view the setting sun. As they came to her favorite park bench, they sat and she turned to face Eric. The air felt so full of romance. Everything seemed "perfect".

However, Eric seemed a little unsurprised when she approached him, as if he, like her, had been lost in his own thoughts. It was okay, though: she knew how to deal with this and, very carefully, she raised her hand towards him, allowing him to know just where to stop so the illusion was not ruined as she touched his cheek.

"What are you thinking?" Kim whispered, not quite sure at this point where Eric's mind was taking him.

"Thinking about you, Kim." He answered softly, his dark eyes never leaving hers as he tilted his head ever so slightly towards her hand. "Always with you, Kim"

There had been an instant, when she reminisced, when she might have thought that she had misheard Eric, but for some reason things now felt a little different. In fact, no matter what she might think of the moment, she knew, in her mind, that something wasn't right. Still she was caught up in the minute and dismissed the thought as quickly as a shooting star blazing across the sky.

She nodded, even though she was not completely convinced that she should not try to encourage Eric to share whatever had caused his brief lapse into being somewhere else in thought.

His grin, like the spark of mischievous interest now brightened his expression, was somewhat difficult to ignore. It took only a second or two before she found herself returning it, ready and willing. 'If that's what he wants, then I'll let go of everything else and concentrate only on us.' "Okay." She finally agreed. But still in the back of her mind something troubled her. He's just so perfect. It's almost like I'm living a dream. In some way I don't want it to end and in others…it just can't be real.

It was up to her, now, and she knew that he was waiting for her to say or do something,
but the words, she had come to realize, could never convey the true depths of her new found feelings for him. And until she could reconcile those words, she could not do what she really desired and that was to kiss him. Oh, she wanted to, even now…Heaven only knew that she had tried in the last few days to do that and to tell Eric how much he meant to her. But her own thoughts betrayed her each time.

And those thoughts always came back to Ron as she remembered how his faith in her sustain her and always gave her the strength to go on, day after day. And, truth be told, she knew there might be no end with her relationship with him in saving the world. For some reason, she didn't want that to end. 'That might be all they ever had together,' she reflected to herself.

She sighed; it was a sobering thought: not one. One she had not considered before. But, if Eric was all that she could ever hope for, then she knew it would have to be that way and she needed to play her part to the fullest when that moment came to tell Ron.

"Yes, Kim?" He prompted with more than his usual amount of adult enthusiasm. "And what's okay?"

'As if you didn't already know,' she thought to herself, but she didn't say so. She was too
busy looking at him sheepishly with her emerald eyes. Besides she decided, it doesn't pay to appear too obvious with Eric.

Now she calmed herself and simply told him what she knew he was waiting to hear. "How about I just show you?"

The kiss was planned to perfection and as their lips drew near…the Kimmunicator loudly beeped its urgent call breaking the moment.

"What's up, Wade?"

"It's mission time, Kim. Urgent call!"

"Can't GJ or Ron handle it?"

"Sorry, Kim: It's danger major, and they want you."

"Right. I'm on my way.

"Sorry, Eric: I've got to go. Pick up where we left off when I get back?" Kim looked at him coyly.

"Perhaps," he said with a devilish look.

Kim responded with her own devilish smile, and her sultry look told him exactly what he wanted to see. Her words had already confirmed what he wanted to hear.

"Come on, Kim: I'll drop you off. "

The motorcycle ride home was romantic under the early star-filled evening sky as Eric took the long way back to her home. It took a bit longer than she anticipated, but that didn't matter.

Holding her arms tightly around his waist, it she made every second worth the ride, and she never wanted it to end. Things couldn't be more perfect…then again there was that nagging feeling in the back of her neck that something just wasn't right, and again, her thoughts turned to Ron.

After Eric dropped off Kim he headed up to Upperton Park. At this time of night, it was pretty much vacant from the day's activities. He turned off his motorcycle, stepped off, and went out to meet the approaching individual. Only their moonlit silhouettes could be seen in eerie deformity against a nearby retaining wall.

The man approaching was alone and finishing the last strides of a quick walk across the park's center. He stopped a pace away and surveyed Eric.

"Angels walk in," he grinned and Eric responded "where fools fear to tread."

"I didn't know you were so well-versed and familiar with coded metaphors," Eric replied.

The man shrugged. "Metaphors, devils, angels, teenagers. One knows the enemy, if one is to succeed.

Eric nodded. "Yes. You have no evidence, as yet, that I will succeed with her or that she will yield to you. You know me better than that, however. I know you'll need real proof that I am succeeding, or you'll have to come up with another alternative."

The man's eyes narrowed as if in respect, but he smiled meaningly and did a slow survey of Eric. Suddenly, he reached out a hand and lifted Eric's chin. "You discount the obvious, boy!"

Eric made himself stand still. "I know you better." He jerked his chin away contemptuously, bracing for something but not knowing what."

"Frosting on the cake, my dear teenager. Kim Possible is not as smart as you."

A wry smile appeared on Eric's face. "And she's not as smart as Shego."

"Correct. If Shego can't figure it out then…"

"Kim Possible can't figure it out, either."

A very evil laugh erupted from the two that ominously rent the evening air.

"Now, go and make me proud, SON."

"I will, father."

It was lunch time, and Mrs. Dr. P decided to do the unexpected and go home for a sandwich and a little "me" quiet time. Little to her surprise, Ron was sitting on their living room sofa watching the wide screen television and munching on some snackage he had made. On one side of him sat Rufus eating away at several pieces of Gouda and Cheddar cheese. On Ron's other side was Kim's Pandaroo. Ron was snuggled between the two of them like a patient between two psychiatrists. She was about to ask him how things were going when she overheard the TV commentator and decided to stay unobserved in the kitchen to listen.

The talk show host had just asked about finding true love and the well known interviewee responded; "We all deserve to find people who connect with us, who care for us, who make us laugh, who drive us crazy (in a good way), and who make us feel more excited than a popcorn kernel in a working microwave," and the talk show host laughed.

"Of course," the interviewee continued, "we should all strive for our set qualities, not settle for two or three of the total. That said, many of us have unfair expectations of what relationships are supposed to be like.

"Blame it on the movies, or romance novels, or Barbie-and-Ken mythology, but seeking perfection in a relationship isn't noble; it's doomed. Think about the lottery winners: they play with the hope that they'll score big, quit the job, buy a yacht, and party for the rest of their lives.

"But the reality for so many mega-bucks winners is that they end up in a dead-end life with relatives clawing at them and bankruptcy lawyers dividing the spoils. Why? Because their expectations of their fantasy life were far different than the reality, and they end up blowing the so-called 'best thing that ever happened to them.'

"Same goes for relationships. You may hit lucky sevens with a perfect match, but if you don't manage the fantasy with a dose of reality, your heart will be headed for bankruptcy.

"There are four key fantasy vs. reality clashes. Make sure you end up on the right side.

"Number 1:

"Expectation: The Fireworks of Romance

"Reality: The Fireworks of Conflict

"Sure, when sparks fly in a beginning of a relationship, you've got oodles of chemistry, hopes, and anticipation. But to think that every day is going to be a barrel of butter-cream icing is just asking for trouble.

If you're experiencing a lot of passion, you need to manage the 180-degree side of that passion-hard-core conflict. While some see conflict as relationship weakness, it can actually be the opposite - a study, in fact, found that subjects who express their anger have half the risk of heart disease compared with men who internalize it.

"It's a sign that you're communicating, a sign that you both care about the relationship, and a sign that you've got sparks, not complacency.

"Number 2:

"Expectation: The Perfect Package

"Reality: Imperfect Behavior

"When two people meet "the one," they tell all their friends about all the qualities of the new-found lover: Cute, friendly, compassionate, funny, good job, nice shoes, gorgeous body. In other words, perfect!

"Yeah, right, your friends think, and they're probably right. Okay, your new love interest seems to fit 97 of your 100 pieces of criteria for the perfect mate - after the second date. But again, that level of expectation can be an unfair standard that your imperfect companion will never be able to live up to as weeks, months, and years pass.

"Better to admire and appreciate the things that made you swoon. Then, it's up to you to manage the warts and worries (in personality, behavior, hygiene, whatever) that will slowly be introduced the more you get to know them.

"Number 3:

"Expectation: Wild Nights, Sleepy Days

"Reality: Wild Days, Sleepy Nights

"The joys of dating: Party all night, and then lounge around during the day in anticipation of the night ahead. Of course, the initial excitement - about an impending date on the town is one of the main engines that drives the relationship early on.

"That power source will wind down a bit once commitment sets in and routine takes over. Fight the impulse to pull away when you start to feel this relationship shift; spending time with a romantic partner can curb work-related stress and lower blood pressure, according to researchers.

"The most successful couples are the ones who are able to adapt to the fact that crazy work days, the stress of life, and the daily grind of reality will become a stronger force than all-night talks under the stars.

"Number 4:

"Expectation: Complete Immersion

"Reality: Occasional Diversion

"When you start dating someone who drives you to all levels of craziness, you want total saturation. You want to talk on the phone, you want an inbox full of flirty messages, you want five nights a week of dates, you can't stop thinking about them, and everything you say, do, smell, touch, or eat reminds you of that person.

"If that's you, I'm happy for you. That kind of all-consuming infatuation is one of the greatest feelings in life. But it just can't last. And - truth be told - men may maintain an interest in sports, and want to watch a game or two with buds.

"Or women may decide that, heck, those end-of-season sales just can't go on without them. Many couples write off those feelings as evidence that they must be falling out of love. I don't see it that way. I see it as falling into reality, and successful couples know how to change their definition of immersion.

"In fact, researchers have found that those with a wide circle of friends have an easier time dealing with stress and have a lower risk of heart disease than people who rely on only one or two others for support. That is, they don't see immersion as being based on quantity of time together, but rather immersing themselves in each other in whatever time they have-whether it's a lot or not.

"And that, my friends out there in TV Land, is all I have on relationships for this lunch hour. See you tomorrow when we take on the topic of Forgetting that Anniversary."

"Or, the Half-a-Versary," the host joked, and the interviewee stared at him, confused.

Ron sighed and turned off the TV and sat back down on the sofa. How could he ever reach beyond his fantasies and be real with Kim? Too often, his own child-like wonder just got in the way.

"Pandaroo, Rufus: there's got to be some way I can break through this. Someway, I've got to show Kim how much I love her and want to be with her."

"Yup!" Rufus replied.

He thought he was crazy Rufus replied: but he also swore that he heard words coming from Roo, "Be true to your essential Ronness."

"Yeah, that's it," he stated emphatically. And suddenly a small bit of relief from the Eric stress he felt washed away from his soul.

Anne quietly slipped out the garage door, smiling. Perhaps, just perhaps, her quietly spoken phrase would be enough to point Ron in the right direction.

Pre-prom jitters had Kim pouncing on the panic button. Fortunately, she had Monique's sanity-saving tips, 'guaranteed to glide her through the day feeling fabulous—not frazzled!'

Kim's dreamy emerald eyes read down the list for the umpteenth time…

'1. Put Everything In Writing, GFGirl.

Jotting down a last-minute to-do list not only helps you get organized but also keeps panic in its place. When you see your errands written down in black and white, they become less overwhelming and more manageable. Keep your list handy, and check things off as you go along: that. That way, you so don't have to stress out about remembering everything - —it's all right there.

Kim nodded her head in agreement. So far, with 'all things quiet on the mission front,' the day had gone by just like Monique had said.

'2. Plan a Snack Attack!, Girlfriend.

If the ticking clock is making you nervous, you can munch your way to a much happier state. Be sure to eat three squares, and snack on carbohydrate-rich foods. Eating carbs releases serotonin, girl, the feel-good brain chemical. So to help stay calm, try chewing on the mood foods: a few graham crackers with peanut butter or some fresh fruit.'

So far, that was working perfectly. For the first time in ages Kim didn't have the Flippies doing their dances on her stomach in anticipation of the evenings events.

'3. Shake It, Baby!

Exercise is 'the three Ps:' the perfect pre-prom preparation. So, raising your heart rate can help dissipate those pre-prom jitters and give you the added benefit of a healthy glow. You don't need a formal workout, either though you'll probably run your usually three miles. Just put on your favorite music and practice your dance moves, too. It will squash your stress.'

Kim giggled to herself and hit the button on her boom box. Monique was right, a few dance moves was exactly what she needed right now and she had them down like a final practice for the High School Cheer Finals competition.

'4. Mon's Dress Tips.

Finally, your prom dress is supposed to be classy; you shouldn't look like you're going to the beach. You don't have to reveal yourself to look good. The more you wear clothing that suits you, the better you look and the more attention you get, GF.'

Kim felt especially cheerful as she put the list down and looked at herself in the mirror again, running down her mental checklist for the final time. Kim looked into her full length mirror. The light blue prom dress, that Eric had suggested she purchase, was wonderful. It was flattering, stylish, subtle, and brought out the gleam in her emerald eyes.

Lipstick color was just right. The color, and how it presented itself on her, would definitely entice any male ('preferably, a certain teenaged young man,' Kim thought with a giggle) to give her an outright kiss on the lips. One could almost feel the warm silk of their beauty whispering.

Hairstyle, of course, was guaranteed to make even Bonnie "jel". It was original and showed she was, indeed, ' full of surprises.'

To top it off Monique had accessorized her with a great set of white high- heeled sandals and matching purse. She smiled at herself and nodded approval. For once, everything seemed to be going her way. Everything was…

"PERFECT!"

Eric looked in the mirror. If looks could kill, he would, by his own accord, assist in murdering thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people tonight, if everything worked out according to Dr. Drakken's plans. Since the Diablos were no respecter to persons, anything that got in the way of their programming would surely be destroyed. On impulse, he thought to himself, 'Surely a small price to pay for world domination.'

But this would only work if he was successful in his current mission, and the crucial part of it was control of Kim Possible. And crucial it was. So much so, in fact, that he had difficulty conceiving of any strategy that did not include it.

There was no human being in the world that could really think in Eric's cold, calculated, multi-valued logic. He was created out of Drakken's own tormented mind, and nobody knew how the good doctor did it. In fact Drakken, himself realized that Eric's made-to-order functions were radically different from his other synthodrones, and that his construct would be the only one of its kind…a creation born more by accidental luck than by his skill.

Eric adjusted his tie and smiled one last time. Within his brain two final thoughts crossed. 'Who checks the thought which is unthinkable? And who quite guarantees the benevolence of the incomprehensible?'

Kim Possible would pose no threat to Drakken's plan, this time. He, Eric, was the distraction, the decoy, in which she was hopelessly in love with. That was all that mattered. In short, everything was…

"…PERFECT!"

Ron fell back onto his bed and removed his tie. He was so stressed out that he didn't even notice that he was lying on top of Rufus. His stomach did a flip-flop, and he had a headache like a chisel through his skull. "This just hasn't…been my day, Rufus," he groaned and now forced his mind back into focus.

"Rufus, buddy, it's hard, sometimes, to believe in my ability to be or do everything I dream about. Even Kim has her dark moments. But it's how she gets through those moments and pulls strength from them to fuel her. Man, when she does that she can do anything. But what's the use? I'm no KP. I'm just the sidekick, the distraction. Still, I've always got her back. What am I going to do, little buddy?"

Rufus, fortunately by now, had dug himself out from underneath Ron's limp body and shook his head. He knew Ron was suffering but, as his and Ron's stomach growled, there was only one thing that would cure both problems.

Ron spoke the two most wonderful words in the world ('after KP, of course,' Rufus thought): that could sooth a soul in a heartbeat…

"BUENO NACHO!" Ron whispered, and Rufus replied:

"…PERFECT!"

Ron looked at his little pink friend. "Why not, I really didn't want to go to the prom anyway and watch Kim and Eric dance the night away."

Rufus nodded in agreement.

"Besides, KP needs her space."

He took off his father's powder blue tux and hung it up. "Maybe, someday, I'll wear it, Rufus, but not tonight."

Slowly, Ron changed into his regular clothes and put Rufus in his pocket. He doubted even Bueno Nacho could cheer him up now. He moved even slower downstairs and finally made it outside to his scooter. Hopping on, he saw two shooting stars blaze across the night sky and made a wish:

"I wish I could tell her I love her. I really do."

Author's afterward:

A quick note from the story's protagonist:

I, Pandaroo, have authorized the following:

cpneb, to tell my story, what happened to me during Kim's graduation;

jakt, to write some of my more memorable stories about Kim and me, through the years.

A couple of quick notes: Kim will never admit it to anyone, but she loves the Frankie Valli song, and I like it, as well, so you'll see it referenced by my two storytellers, cpneb and jakt.

I have been on many of Kim's adventures around Middleton, and I thought that you might find some of these tales of interest; they were to me, at least, when they occurred.

I would be extremely remiss if I didn't thank my fans out there for voting for this story in BOTH rounds of the Third Annual Fannie Awards. Even though My Eyes… didn't win, your votes meant a lot to ja, kt, cpneb (yes, even the vote hog!), and especially to me: who would have ever thought that that a stuffed animal would gain a following?

Thank you so very much, all of my readers and followers …I have some dust in my eye, that's the reason for the water coming from it….Roo hugs, for everybody!

Next, on Birth, and Rebirth 00: My Eyes Adored You

Chapter 6 – Headed for city lights …

Thank you, to all of you, for supporting us on this new journey.

Thanks again for reading, and please review.

04/26/2008

Idea by K.T. and cpneb. Story by K.T, J.A. and cpneb.

Thanks to Star-eva01 for the beta work. Sir, you ROCK!