Ch.81
It took Kim three hours to wake up by which point Ann was feeling the exhaustion from the last few days catching up with her.
When her eyes fluttered open Ann was instantly by Kim's side, a smile of relief on her lips. Ann saw Kim looked around before sighing in resignation.
"Kim, how are you feeling?" Ann asked quietly.
Seeing Kim tearing up yet refusing to answer Ann grabbed her hand. "Sweetie I know it hurts and you blame yourself but it's not your fault."
"...lie." kim whispered something so softly that Ann only heard the last word.
"I'm sorry Kim but I couldn't hear that." Ann said glad that she at least got her talking.
"We both know that's a lie!" Kim yelled, tears falling freely. "After the mission with the dictator I promised myself to not let something like that happen to Ron again. To not let Ron get hurt again but after that not only did I ruin our friendship, I was useless as he had to save not only the world but our school from Drakken's plans. I was in the same room mom! And. I. Couldn't. Do. A. Thing. I'm supposed to be a Possible and a Possible can do anything! Then why? Why couldn't I help him?"
"Kim you can't be blaming yourself." Ann reasoned and before Kim could speak she continued. "First off, you didn't know about Drakken's plans. So obviously you couldn't have known Ron was going to stop him, saving the world, you and your classmates. Thirdly, you were in need of rescue so how could you have helped Ron. And lastly, the Possible's moto is meant to encourage you to never give up without trying, to think of ways to succeed not to make you believe that you can do anything and everything. Also just because we tell you that you can do anything does not mean you're responsible for doing everything."
Still in tears Kim finally admitted her feelings. "It hurts mom! It hurts so much!"
Ann settled on the bed next to Kim and brought her into a firm but gentle hug. "It's going to be okay Kim, we'll get through this."
That's when the dam finally broke and Kim started sobbing. Then she started apologizing.
"I'm sorry mom! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry!" Kim apologized almost pleading for forgiveness.
"Kim it's okay. Things will be okay." Ann assured but it wasn't till she said I forgive you that Kim seemed to calm.
~~~~~
Over the next two months things started changing for Ann.
First, she had submitted for a divorce using the evidence Ron had provided. Second, Kim started seeing a therapist to help her cope with the pain. Third, the twins apologized for blaming Kim for what happened to Ron. And though they didn't say it, Ann found out from Kim they knew about the divorce and circumstances behind it.
James was asked to move out of the Stoppable home weeks prior after the kids blew up on him demanding to know why he did it since the man showed little remorse and pretended nothing was wrong. When he explained that they wouldn't understand and that it would all be okay Kim nearly attacked him, prompting Ann to interfere and ask him to move out.
Another thing that happened in these two months was that Ann got a secured video message and a schedule so that she could see Ron.
"He looks thinner." After silently staring at Ron for an hour this was the only thing Ann could say.
"Yes, he's lost some weight but we are working on a way to remedy that." Yori assured from out of sight.
"Yori, all the research I've done into Ron's condition shows that there's nothing we can do for him." Ann said.
"I... am aware that we can't do much for him Dr. Possible-san..." Yori began.
"Please call me Ann, I don't want reminders of that man." Ann interjected.
"...Ann but Ron-san will get better. I am certain of it." Yori finished.
"I hope so." Ann says softly before adding. "I'll be asking my kids if they want to see him so that they can be a part of the next call if that's alright?"
"Not a problem, I know Ron-san would be delighted to hear from them." Yori says after a moment.
"Is Kim allowed to speak to him?" Ann wondered instantly feeling bad for the way the question sounded.
"Yes, Ron-san would be delighted to hear from her as well." Yori agreed.
"Thank you." Ann says before they cut the connection.
Over the months and eventually year that followed Ann had gotten her divorce from James and custody of the kids who were refusing to see him. Grew her hair to the small of her back and published ground breaking research on the brain. Throughout the world Ann became the single most accomplished brain surgeon.
The kids eventually agreed to see their father again but when he rescheduled with the excuse of an emergency meeting and they decided to surprise him after he got out of work, their relationship completely broke down. Turns out his now girlfriend after the divorce had gone into labor. James was having another child. And they found out from the security guard.
With them crying at not having even been informed Ann took them home. Home, what Ann and the kids called home now wasn't the old Possible house that was demolished and rebuilt but what used to be Ron's house. Ann had talked it over with Yori and her kids and it was decided that they would stay there for the foreseeable future.
Another thing of note was the release of the Neuro Linker and it's founding company. Cross Industries. Looking at the familiar device Ann had asked Wade who confirmed that it was of Ron's design and that the company was founded by him under Ron's name and with the name Ron had mentioned to him, and his partners once. He even explained that part of the reason they waited so long to release was that they were mass producing the product.
Soon after the world was in an upheaval as multiple tech and medical industries were revolutionized by the Neuro Linker and none could reverse engineer the device to date. Within a month telephones were considered a thing of the past. Few weeks later after the medical field started adjusting to the Neuro Linker's capabilities they released it, Conquest!
The VRMMORPG that within a week of it's release it's sales broke world records. Any and every so called gamer had bought the game. Reviews were positive and it's hype continued to increase. The greatest feature of the game wasn't it's freedom, visuals or fantastic abilities it granted the user but the time dilation. A one to five difference. One hour outside the game equals five inside. When it was advertised people found it ridiculous yet everyone couldn't help but talk about it. They all had the same thought, what if?
Time, the one thing no one could buy might have just been put on sale.
Three weeks after the game's release and confirmation of it's time dilation governments were holding a hearing to force Cross Industries to hand over the technology and failed miserably. Not only had Wade anticipated their approach, he had so much dirt on each of them that they were forced to drop the subject and change their tactics.
The company was the victim of constant hacking attempts and even robberies yet they still got nothing. Ron was the only one who knew how to make the time dilation and his work was protected by Bebe and Wade though not even Wade had seen it.
During this time Ann had also made herself a promise. If Ron did wake up she was going to give them a chance. To do that she needed her kids, especially Kim to understand what she felt and not be completely adverse to the idea. It took Ann two years and seven months after making the decision to convince Kim. The twins had relented only after a few months understanding that she developed feelings for Ron.
Kim had been so against the idea till Ann sat down with her one night and talked her heart out.
"I dream of him, Kim." Ann whispered as she held a glass of wine and downed it. "Every night since he went to Japan I've dreamt of him. He would never say a word but he would hold me. Soothing me. Dreams of him are what kept me going at times."
As Ann poured herself more wine Kim asked. "But when did you start seeing Ron as a man, he's my age mom?"
"You can blame your father for that!" Ann said beginning to explain how her marriage had been failing for the longest and the only one who knew was Ron. How they started sharing dreams though they didn't know at the time and Ron would be there to cheer her up. How eventually the dreams had taken a more honest appearance as on a especially bad day Ron made her feel loved, desired, beautiful again. Then it happened, he caught me masturbating, one thing led to another and we ended up having sex.
"I regretted it and wanted to pretend it never happened but Ron said he would be there for me. Still I told him no and even accused him of trying to break my marriage when he brought me evidence that James had been cheating on me for years." Ann said, drinking more wine. "He was still willing to be with me after that, understanding and waiting for me to decide. Then Drakken's plan went into effect and for all of my abilities I couldn't help him. Yet even now I dream of him and rely on those dreams to believe he'll make a miracle happen and come back for me."
~~~~~
By that point Kim was taken aback when Ann openly started weeping. Her mother was strong and didn't cry easily so Kim was able to see just how painful it was for her to admit it. That she was waiting for a miracle to bring her loved one back.
Now on her knees in front of her mother, Kim hugged her.
With conviction Kim spoke. "When Ron wakes up if he has the same courage to admit his feelings for you that you just showed me, I'll give you my blessing."
Ann looked up startled that she might have misheard. She pinched her thigh tightly but she was wide awake. "...but?"
Her words never finished as Kim softly shushed her.
"Thank you, Kim."