No own, no money, please no sue!
I blame MaceEcam for this. He mentioned the idea in chat, and it stuck in my head. Within 2 days, I had an almost compete story plotted in my head. But don't worry, he'll get his, I just have to find the right method. Lol
I didn't plan on adding anything once I started posting, but I have to address something VERY quickly. There will not be any incest in this story. I know I made things vague, but the kids are not related in any way.
Second, I cannot believe the response I got to the first chapter. 37 reviews? Wow...
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Past and Present – Chapter 2
The tension filled the room quickly as Kim and Ron stared at each other, not saying anything. Everyone picked up on it quickly, even the staff, who made no move to clean up the glass and wine Kim spilled. Michael could see the look on his mother's face was one of shock, while Ron's face looked like he had just been kicked in the gut mixed with anger. He smiled, wrapping an arm around both of them. "So... you two know each other?" Silence continued, not a single noise sounded through the room, and Michael was getting very uncomfortable. "Michelle... Honey... little help here."
"Daddy," Michelle grabbed her father's arm, pulling him away, "why don't we check out the snack table, see if it's up to snuff for you."
When they were at the snack table, Michelle held onto her father's arms, looking at him worriedly. "Daddy, what's going on, I've never seen you act like that? How do you know Michael's mother?"
Ron snapped out of almost frozen state he was in, hearing the deep concern in his daughter's voice. "Pumpkin... that..." Ron sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Do you remember when I told you stories about the adventures I had when I was in high school?"
Michelle smiled, remembering those stories fondly. "Sure, I loved when you told me those stories just before bed every night. You and Rufus and Kim Possib..." Michelle's eyes went wide and she whirled around to look at Michael's mother with all new eyes. "You mean... Mrs. Sanders... THAT'S Kim Possible?"
Ron sighed, leaning against the table. "Yes, she is."
"Then she's the girl who..." Michelle's face hardened as she remembered all the stories, about how they were dating and how it didn't work. Her father had never mentioned why they had broken up, but she knew her father, and he was the most loyal man she knew. She also knew that it was the combination of her mother and Kim who had hurt her father so badly that he had chosen to raise her on his own, rarely ever going out with anyone after the pain he had been through. She felt a rare burst of anger flare within her. "I'm just going to have a talk with my future mother-in-law."
Michelle took one step before Ron had his hand on her arm, stopping her. "Don't Michelle. It happened years ago and it doesn't matter now."
"Yes it does." Michelle paused when she realized she was talking a bit too loudly now, lowering her voice. "Daddy, I saw how you reacted when you saw her. You had the same look on your face when Johnny came to pick me up for that date on his motorcycle. You don't get mad often, but you got mad there."
"It was just... the shock. I haven't seen Kim in over twenty years. I'm fine now Pumpkin, I promise." Ron could see Michelle calming, so he pulled her into a hug. "Thank you though for being concerned for me."
Michelle sighed, hugging her father tightly. "Of course I'm going to be concerned. You're my father, and I love you."
Ron smiled as he kissed her on the forehead. "I love you too Pumpkin."
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Kim stood in shock, not even noticing her son's hand on her arm. "Ron? How...?"
"Mom, are you okay?" Michael stepped in front of his mother, trying to get her attention. "Mom, you're scaring me a bit here."
Kim shook her head slightly, her eyes still wide. "And Michelle... did I never get her last name or..."
"Mom!"
Kim's eyes lost their lost look, seeing her son's concerned face in front of her. "Michael, what..." Her eyes widened yet again, looking wildly around the room. "Where... Ron, where did he go?"
"Mom, it's fine, he's just over at the snack table with Michelle."
Kim looked over quickly and relaxed a bit when she saw him. She leaned back against the wall, trying to steady her breathing. Rubbing her temples, she let out a quiet laugh. "Well, this is not how I ever expected to see him again."
Michael leaned in close to his mother, very concerned for her. He had never seen his mother lose her cool like this, and he had seen her take on super villains. "Mom, what's going on? You're scaring me a bit."
"I'm sorry Sweetie." Kim patted his cheek, sighing wistfully. "When I saw Ron... Michelle's... father... I just lost it for a second." She could see from his expression that her son needed more before, letting out a deep sigh. "Ron was my best friend and the love of my life before I met your father." Kim turned to look back at Ron, who was hugging Michelle. "I made a mistake. We were going to different schools and I said something..." Kim trailed off, her face hardening, "and that slut he hooked up with after..." The hardened expression faded, and now Kim just looked sad. "Let's just say our relationship did not end well. Over fifteen years of friendship and... we haven't spoken since."
"Mom, if you want..."
"Don't worry about it Michael." Kim turned back to look at him, putting on a smile for him. "It's ancient history now. This is your special time, yours and Michelle's. I'll deal."
Michael sighed, looking over at Michelle and Ron himself. "If you are sure."
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Needless to say, the Possible and Stoppable families were very surprised to see each other when they arrived for the party. Though they had kept in touch occasionally, it had always been awkward after Kim and Ron had broken up. They could also feel the tension in the air from Kim and Ron, even as both tried to make it seem like nothing was wrong. The fact that they were on opposite sides of the room didn't dispel the sense that things could explode at any minute.
It was when Monique arrived that things really came to a head. "Kim... is that... Ron?"
Kim sighed, glancing over in Ron's direction. "Yes it is."
Monique's hands clenched into fists. "What is that bastard doing here?"
"That bastard is Michelle's father."
That gave Monique pause, as her gaze shifted from Ron to Michelle. "Wait, so Michelle is... Ron and..."
"Yes, she is." Kim sipped her drink as she shook her head. "She picked up a lot more of her father's traits though thankfully. Believe me, I've been looking a bit closer since I found out Ron was her father."
Monique reached across the table, taking Kim's hand. "Are you sure you're going to be able to handle this with everything that's going on?"
Kim nodded, appearing extremely confident. "I can handle this just fine. I am NOT going to let this interfere in any way with the wedding."
Kim and Monique talked for a bit more, but Monique's gaze kept shifting over towards Ron. Finally, Kim had enough of it. "Monique, if you want to go talk to him, go ahead."
"You sure?" Monique looked to her best friend for reassurance. "I won't do it if it would make you uncomfortable."
"I'll be fine. Besides, he was your friend too."
"Thanks Kim." Monique smiled as she rose to her feet, quickly crossing the room.
Ron saw her coming and felt filled with dread. He knew this wasn't going to go well. "Monique."
"Hello Ron, long time no see." Monique took a seat across from him, still smiling. "I hear you've done pretty well for yourself, with the restaurant chain and all that."
Ron let out a deep sigh. "All right, let's get this over with. No, I didn't know that Michael was Kim's son. Yes, seeing her here today was a shock. No, I don't want to talk to her right now. Is that everything Kim sent you over to ask me or was there something else?"
Monique frowned deeply at the tone of voice Ron used. "Kim didn't send me over here to ask you anything. I just thought that it would be good to say hello to an old friend."
Ron snorted quickly, sitting back in his chair. "Friend, yeah right."
Monique look hardened as she leaned forward. "And just what the hell is THAT supposed to mean?"
The crowd was noticing what was going on, but neither Ron or Monique paid any attention to the rest of the guests. "It means that you completely took Kim's side of things, that's what it means."
Monique's voice was practically a growl. "I didn't take her side until you started sleeping with that skank."
Ron shot forward, his hands slamming on top of the table, so fast that Monique was startled. "What was I supposed to do, Kim broke up with me. Was I supposed to just sit there pining away while Kim had her fun? Huh? Of course, considering your dating record, it was probably you who talked her into it in the first place, spreading her legs for..."
Monique's hand shot out, slapping Ron's face so hard his head turned ninety degrees to the right. The crowd gasped, even Monique, who's hand shot up to her mouth in stunned disbelief.
Ron just stayed like that for a moment before slowly turning his head to look at her, his own hand coming up to rub where Monique had struck him. He glanced out over the crowd watching them with a dispassionate gaze.
Monique stretched out her hand across the table, her eyes almost pleading. "Ron, I..."
Ron rose from his seat, ignoring Monique. He quickly made his way over to his daughter, kissing her gently on the cheek. "I'm sorry Pumpkin, but I think I'm just going to head to the house. You stay and have fun, all right?"
"Daddy?" Michelle wanted to talk to her father, she had never seen him talk to anyone like that before, but she was too stunned.
"I'll be fine Pumpkin." With that, he paused to nod at Michael and left the hall quickly.
With Ron gone, all attention focused on Kim and Monique, as she slowly slumped back down into her seat across from Kim. Kim leaned over quickly, her voice a whisper to avoid putting on more of a show for their friends and family. "Monique, what the hell just happened?"
Monique shook her head slowly. "I don't know. I was talking to him, made some comment about how his work was going and he got defensive, thought I was talking to him on your behalf. Then, all of a sudden, it just got out of hand." Monique looked up at Kim, her eyes a little sad. "That's not the same man we used to know Kim."
Kim shook her head quickly. "No, I don't believe that, not with the way that Michelle is. He's just... overwhelmed with everything. I am too for that matter."
"So does that mean you're going to talk to him? See if you can clear the air between you two? I know how much it hurt you, not having him around or talking to him."
Kim sat back, her hands in front of her on the table. "I don't know. I'd like to, I really would. But maybe... too much time has passed."
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"Daddy?" Michelle pushed open the door to her and Michael's new home, glancing around. "Daddy, are you here?" She checked the living room first, followed by the kitchen before moving to the upstairs. She found her father sitting in the guest room, just sitting on the bed, staring off into nothing. "Daddy, are you all right?"
Ron turned to regard his daughter. He could see the worry on her face, but he knew with his mood there was nothing he could do to immediately quell her concerns. "I will be Pumpkin. It was just... too much, too fast."
Michelle sat down on the bed beside her father, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Daddy, you really scared me back there. I have never seen you act like that, not even when Mom tried to get you to raise the alimony payments."
Ron sighed deeply, hanging his head. "I'm sorry I scared you, I should have controlled myself better than that."
"Daddy, I don't care about the party, I care about you." Michelle tried hard not to cry, but she knew it would be a losing battle. "Daddy... you have never told me what happened. I mean, you always told me stories about the adventures you had, but you never told me why you and Kim broke up."
"Michelle..."
"Daddy, don't." Michelle swiped the tear from her eye, her expression hardening. "This is hurting you, and I don't like to see you hurt. You were the best father in the whole world and you always made sure that I was taken care of, even after what Mom did. You have always taken care of me, and now it's time for me to take care of you. Please... tell me what happened."
"Michelle," Ron almost seemed to be pleading with her. "It's over and done with, has been for a long time now."
"Daddy, it obviously isn't if you reacted like that. Please Daddy, if only for your sake."
Ron sighed again, looking away, but Michelle knew what it meant. She gave him a moment, letting him consider what he was going to say. Just as she was about something, her father turned to face her. "It was twenty-three years ago..."
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Author's Notes – Next – Why did Kim and Ron break up? What drove them apart? Who was the woman that Ron ended up marrying? And how did things get to the point they are now?"
