Bend & Break

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"And you agreed to go?"

Kim looked up from the last of her hastily eaten breakfast, meeting the perplexed face of her fiancé from across the counter. "Yes, Scott. He's my best friend."

"Was Kim. He was your best friend."

Kim shook her head and carried her plate to the trash, dumping the last of it away. "Look, I don't expect you to understand. I need to do this."

"Well, did the computer guy at least say what it was all about?"

"No. Wade just said Ron needs me and gave me the address."

Scott spun from the counter in a huff, running a hand down his face. "Jesus, Kim. We had this trip planned for months! Then as soon as you get a call about some guy you haven't seen in years, you drop everything."

"I'll make it up to you, I swear." She crossed the large kitchen and reached for his arm, tenderly touching it. "Please understand, Scott."

He looked at her, his brow furrowed. "I really don't get it. I don't. I thought Hawaii meant a lot to you."

"We will go. I swear. But right now, precious time is wasting. I have to fly out as soon as I can."

"I thought you gave up this whole hero bid."

She half smiled. "This is more than that." She grabbed for her keys and her purse from the counter, then tiptoed up to give him a kiss. "I will call you tonight and I'll let you know everything." She backed her way toward the door, never breaking eye contact. "Don't worry, okay?"

Scott just shook his head, watching as she bent to pick up her bag, blew him a kiss and disappeared from the apartment. "Wonderful," he grumbled under his breath.

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To Kim, it seemed she had all the time in the world to think up every possible scenario for what awaited her at that address. She drove herself crazy during the plane ride, thinking he was hurt, he was stuck, he was hospitalized … he was in danger of any kind. But as her rental lulled to a stop in front of a white suburbia home, every scenario flew from her thoughts and she was left with only one question: what?

She slowly pulled into the short drive, shoved the car in gear and reached for the slip of paper baring the address. Yes, that was it.

What was Ron doing here?

She furrowed her brow and slowly got out of the vehicle. As she approached, her eyes ran over the white columns guarding the front door, the large bay window just the right of them and the well kept garden on either side of the walkway. The place was—to put it simply—beautiful.

Kim found herself hesitating at the door, her finger extended over the doorbell. Maybe Wade had gotten it wrong? Maybe this all had been a complete mistake? Maybe—

The door jerked open and Kim jumped back, surprised. The woman that stood in the doorway was as equally surprised, but for an entirely different reason.

"Kimberly?"

Kim blinked, realizing just who stood before her. The woman's hair was graying, with wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Time had started to take its toll, but she was still lean and healthy as ever. She was still the person who Kim remembered so long ago...

"Mrs. Stoppable," Kim breathed. "It's been …"

"I know," she replied, pulling her into a hug. "Too long."

Memories came flooding back like a crack in a dam, but Kim fought to blink them away. There was a greater task at hand.

Kim stepped back and tried a smile. "How are things?"

"Okay," Joan Stoppable said with a small nod. She swallowed and gave a little shrug. "I could be better. But, we all could I guess."

Kim furrowed her brow a bit, but before she could ask, the older woman was ushering her inside. "Come on in. Can I take your jacket?"

"Sure," Kim replied, still a little dazed. She slid out of her coat and handed it over, before her eyes slid over the interior of the room. The walls were a rich red with white trim, and the furniture were dark oaks, cozy and inviting. Her eyes were drawn to a black and white framed photograph, a lake with trees surrounding it. It took her a moment to realize it was Middleton Lake.

"Hi."

Kim instantly stilled at the small voice and slowly turned to find a pair of large brown eyes staring up at her, surrounded by brunette curls and freckled cheeks. The little girl stood in the middle of the room, her height reaching no higher than Kim's waist.

"Hi," Kim answered back, hesitant.

"You here to see mommy?" the little girl asked.

Kim craned her head in confusion, her mouth open to answer, when Joan re-entered the room. The older woman paused at the sight of the little girl before she forced a smile.

"Gracie, hun, go upstairs and get your dad. Okay?"

The little girl nodded and darted off, leaving the two women alone. Kim turned from where the girl had disappeared to her old friend's mom, the question on her lips.

But Joan asked a question instead, "Are you going to the service tomorrow?"

"The service?"

Joan looked at her funny. "What? You don't know?"

Kim's world halted on its axis and every possible fear came barreling down on her, threatening to suffocate her. She suddenly found it very difficult to breathe.

"Who… whose service?"

The answer came from behind her. "My wife's."

Kim spun around to face a man descending the steps. He was tall and lean, with sandy blonde hair that splayed across his head in an untamable fashion. His freckles had long since faded away, unearthing the face of an adult. As he came to a stop on the last step, one hand on the banister, Kim felt her jaw unhinge.

"Kim," he said softly. "What are you doing here?"

For the second time, Kim found it difficult to breathe.