A/N Yes the story has not abandoned. But it has been a long time. Broke up this chapter into two pieces I'm currently working on the rest so the next chapter won't be a year long wait. Thanks for being extra, extra patient.

When Kim walked into the nightclub it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. She was bombarded by music and initially it was a bit overwhelming but she gathered her wits after noticing that it was being pumped into the room from the ceiling. She took a moment to tap her feet along to the beat before moving deeper into the room. She glanced around the dance floor and noted that it was pretty packed. Which was quite an accomplishment given how huge the club was. She figured it had to be about twenty meters long and one hundred meters wide. It had a bit of a theatrical feel with a stage at the far end of the room and protruding balconies on opposite walls. Truth be told, it was all a bit extravagant in her opinion, though she did think the strobe-lit columns that descended from the ceiling were a unique touch.

Kim continued through the crowd passing various people dressed to the nines with polyester flares and bell bottoms. Everywhere she turned she caught glimpses of shiny satin tops, pantsuits;sequin disco dresses, and platform shoes.

"Kim!"

She recognized the voice almost immediately. Kim turned to see Ron shuffle-step his way through the mass of people. He wore a white three-piece suit, a dark shirt underneath, no tie, heavily flared trousers, and stack heel-shoes. But what really caught her attention was the bright smile on her face. Ron rarely had an expression that wasn't somewhat guarded. Even when he laughed out loud she could tell that he seldom gave himself up to the moment around her.

"Looo-king gooood KP!" Ron said as he neared.

"Backatcha!" she called out when he came within earshot. "You know, I've been looking all over for you."

He grinned. "If you wanted to find me, you should have checked the dance floor from the get-go. Kim I'm a dance a machine and I won't work for nobody but me."

She laughed. "Well this is new. What happened to Ron the wall flower?"

"Wall flower? I'm a wiiild flower KP, and Ronshine is in season. Catch My Drift?"

"I dig it," she replied. "It's killer to see you come out of your shell. You are who you are, don't apologize."

"All thanks to you, Kim. I was so La La before you convinced me to get some closure by talking things over with Cynthia. If it wasn't for you I would have never gotten in touch with my good vibrations."

"No big, what are friends for?"

"Knowing you, knowing me, KP, there's nothing we can't do." Ron said before pulling her into a hug.

Holding her close he whispered to her, "You make me feel mighty real."

When the embrace broke Kim was sporting a smile and a bit of red on her face. "So what do you want to do now, wildflower?"

"Do you see where we're at? I'm going to dance,shout, and shake my body down to the ground."

"Twitchin!" Kim said as she started to dance a bit herself. "You know something this song has always been a fav of min-"

Kim stopped when she realized that Ron had drifted away from her and was merging back into the crowd.

"Hey where are you going?"

Grinning mischievously Ron pointed to a pretty brunette across the dance floor. "The wildflower is about to spread some Ronshine to that groovy kitten over there. Yeeeeah, that's the way, uh-huh uh huh, I like it."

Before Ron could dip further into the crowd, Kim grabbed him by the arm.

He turned to her a puzzled look on his face. "Le freak ce chic KP, but don't freak out."

"Sorry," she said letting go of his arm. "I thought you were going to dance with me."

Ron studied her quietly.

"With only me," she added.

He sighed, "Kim, we're great friends. So I'd like to know where you got the notion to rock the boat"

"I'm not rocking the boat," Kim replied defensively.

"Don't tip the boat over."

"I'm not."

He looked at her sadly. "You know I think you should wake up."

"What?"

"You, really need to wake up. Wake up now!"

Kim awoke with a start. Blinking away sleep from her eyes she found herself staring down at blue denim. Kim jerked her head up and then straightened out her body. Her memories from the night before came flooding back to her. She recalled the dancing, her grandmother's clip from U.S Bandstand on a loop, the "That's what I call Disco" CD, that infernal elastic band, and then the heavy eye-lids.

She glanced over at Ron who was sitting beside her. They were both seated on the floor of her bedroom, backs against her bed. Kim's eyes cut from Ron's blue jeans to his pale face and horror stricken.

"Was my face-"

"Yes," Ron muttered softly

"For-how long?"

"Don't know I just woke up about thirty seconds before you did."

As he talked, Kim noticed that Ron didn't look at her face; in fact she was pretty sure he was staring past her.

"There's someone else in the room, isn't there?"

Ron nodded and Kim winced.

"It's not my dad is it?"

"No, it's your mom."

XXXXXXXXXXX

8:46 AM

Kim glanced briefly at Ron as he paced back and forth, anxiety pouring from his very body. With a heavy sigh she turned to her mother.

"Mom, it's not what you think."

"You know since you were eleven I always made sure to knock before entering your room. This had to be the one day I slipped."

Before Kim could say another word Ron materialized beside them. "Mrs. Dr. P, I realize you walked into your daughter's bedroom and found her face in my lap—," then squinted his eyes, "why did I start like that?"

Kim placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Um, let me handle this OK?"

With his head hung low Ron returned to his pacing.

"Mom, listen to me, I know it might have looked like-,"

"Kim, you're an adult, but I must say I am very disappointed to see that you would sneak Ron into the house under the cover of darkness."

"I didn't sneak Ron into…. Ok I did sneak him back into my room. But not for what you think."

Ron reappeared, startling both women. "Mrs. Dr. P, I would never disrespect your daughter in your home." He then did a quick pause making sure he'd cover all the angles, "In fact I've never even considered disrespecting your daughter outside of your home-oh wow I am really bad at this."

"Ron," Kim whispered.

"Yeah," he replied quickly before slinking away.

Mother and daughter watched Ron shuffle off. This time before Kim could speak Anne interrupted her by placing her hand in the air like a traffic cop. "Kim, I know you were practicing to replace Joss in the show for your grandmother. In fact it was Nana who alerted me of the situation a few minutes ago. It was decided that it would be for the best to make sure Ron had gone home before your father woke up."

"So then you understand that it wasn't…"

"Well, unless young people today have discovered a way to perform with their clothes on."

Kim let out a sigh of relief. "So why the frowning?"

"Even if Ron were helping you, that doesn't excuse the fact that you snuck a friend into your parent's home without their permission."

"I'm sorry, I-Wait, Nana knew about Ron?"

Ron brushed Kim to the side and stepped before Anne. "Mrs. Dr. P your daughter is a very classy gir-young woman and I…I don't know where I'm going with this."

He placed his face into his hands and with slumped shoulders strolled away from the Possibles.

"He seems panicked, Kimberly."

"He's a bit of a panicky Pete," Kim replied casually. "Mom I'm sorry about sneaking him in…. But I really needed his help."

Mother and daughter exchanged looks. Anne attempted to remain firm but Kim's bottom lip slowly began protruding outwards as her eyes shined with unshed tears.

"OK," Anne sighed.

"Alright let's be honest," Ron butted in abruptly. "She's a ten and I'm a six on a good day. Mrs. Dr. P, you're a doctor you can see that kind of math just doesn't add up."

Kim put a hand on Ron's shoulder once again and turned him towards her. "We've already established this as a misunderstanding, Ron."

"So we're good?"

Kim looked past him and over at her mother. Anne gave her a resigned nod.

"Yeah, we're good, Ron," Kim said with a reassuring smile.

"I gotta tell you these last few minutes are going to challenge for a spot on my list of Ron's most awkward moments."

"You have a most awkward moment's list?"

"I… might."

"You just said you did."

Mrs. Possible cleared her throat capturing Ron and Kim's attention. "Well I suppose this is as appropriate a time as any to ask what you would like for breakfast Kim. And Ron since you're here—"

"Ron's here?"

Wiping sleep from his eyes James Possible still clad in his pajamas stumbled into the room

"Aaand here comes a new challenger," Ron muttered.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

9:15 AM

"What are you looking so sullen for? My mom covered for us you know what that means don't you?"

Lying on her bed Ron eyed Kim wearily.

"It means she likes you." She grinned.

Anne Possible had indeed worked quickly. Ron stiffened up so much he could have been mistaken for a marble statue. Kim was in the process of concluding that it was impossible to be honest without revealing the part about Ron sneaking into the house in the dead of the night. So Anne leaped in and casually unraveled the mystery for her husband. James' own mother had a list of specialty foods that she requested for the party, the workload might have been too much for Anne if she hadn't requested Ron's help last night. And obviously he needed to be here bright an early if they were to have at least some of the food ready by the afternoon.

Kim waved her hand over Ron's face. "Hello, anyone home? Her liking you is a good thing, Ron."

Ron drew in a deep breath and lifted himself up to his feet. "So how did we end up in that, um, position?"

"Well we had gotten through the entire routine, perfectly, for the first time and you sort of just collapsed against the bed and settled onto the ground here."

"Yes, I remember the desperate, exhausted, joy."

"You cried a little."

"I don't remember that."

"You were kind of misty eyed."

"Don't remember that either."

"Gotcha, so anyway I figured we could both use some rest so I sat down beside you. We talked a little and then you fell asleep. I must have fallen asleep right after. Sometime before my mom walked in I must have moved in my sleep and-"

"OK, I can fit the rest of the pieces together," Ron remarked as he massaged the base of his temple. "You know what this is right? It's chaos."

"Don't be so melodramatic, every-thing's fine now."

Ron chuckled softly. "Ah sweet naïve KP, do you think that sitcom like misunderstanding we just had is going to be the highlight of the day? There's gonna be more awkwardness and embarrassment before the day ends."

Kim rolled her eyes. "I forgot you're a glass half full of poison kind of guy aren't you?"

"See, I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen. Chaos follows me around, chaos is my aura…You've invited chaos into your family's home."

"Well maybe I like a little chaos."

"Please, no one likes chaos," Ron said with a shake of his head.

"Maybe I do."

"Why?"

Kim shrugged. "Because it's different."

"It's different?"

"Yeah."

"But it's chaos!" Ron blurted out.

"I heard you the first time."

Ron started off towards the bedroom door. "You ask for chaos, you're going to get it."

"Well good, maybe I welcome it to my life," Kim called out after him.

"I hope you do because it's coming," he called back.

"Well give it to me, because I want it!"

They fell silent for a beat, then Kim squinted her eyes and said, "That was a poor choice of words to shout out."

Wordlessly Ron reached for the bedroom door and pulled it open. Joss stood out in the hallway a toothbrush in hand, a towel on her shoulder, and a mask of red on her face.

"It's a misunderstanding," Kim announced softly.

Joss nodded before sprinting off quietly. Ron slammed the door shut then he turned to Kim and gave her a knowing look.

"I know, I know, chaos," she replied.

"You, were warned remember that. Anyway I'm going down to help your mom, are you coming with?"

Kim walked over to the laptop on her bed and tapped the enter key. When the screensaver disappeared she tapped the keyboard a few times and the grainy image of a much younger Nana Possible appeared on screen. "You know what, I think I'll spend the rest of the afternoon polishing some of the rough edges of the routine. This is sort of like cheerleading; its one thing to know how to perform the moves it's another to execute them gracefully."

Ron ran his hands together. "You know your family is going to be having a party downstairs right?'

"It's ok, I'll def make it down before the show starts" Kim declared.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

10:30 AM

Jim looked up from his laptop just in time to see his brother approaching him. Yawning loudly Tim wiped a splash of oil off his cheek with his forearm.

"I think we're done."

"Should we test for bugs?" Jim inquired.

"Bugs? When have we ever had a bug? Let's get some breakfast."

"Cool, but first check out this screen-cap." Jim twirled the laptop on his hand and shoved the screen in his brother's face.

After the briefest glance Tim recoiled in horror. He clutched dramatically at his eyes and stumbled backwards until his back hit a garage wall. "No! No! No! My eyes'! Why would you show me that! I think…I think I'm going to hurl."

"Chill, it's not what you think. The first glance is deceiving. Kim fell onto his lap."

Jim tapped the arrow keys on the keyboard. "See, five minutes earlier she's resting her head on his shoulder, then she's asleep, then…boom her face slips off. Waddya think?"

Licking his lips Tim said. "The pranking potential for this is very high…"

Tim trailed off into quiet reflection and the twins studied the screen together. Eventually Jim broke the silence. "But, you want to delete it, don't you?"

"Bro, be honest, am I getting soft in my old age?"

"As much as I'd like to rag on ya, I thought the same thing."

Tim waved his hand dismissively, "We'll definitely get more stuff down the road. Stuff that's less gnarly to our sense of sight."

"Yeah this is pretty gnarly."

Tim took the laptop from his brother pushed a few buttons and then slammed it shut. "Also we shouldn't record them when they're alone… At night."

"You think something will happen?"

"I don't know… but I'm not sure we can keep taking the chance for our sanity's sake."

Jim shuddered. "Let's stop talking about it or I'll be too sick to eat."

With that said Jim followed his brother out the door of the Possible's garage and into the kitchen.

"I wonder what time Ron got out this mor-,"

Jim's question was derailed when Tim stopped so abruptly that Jim couldn't avoid colliding with his brother. Jim was preparing to shove his twin out of the way when he caught sight of what had halted him. Ron stepped into their path wearing a sheer white apron that had him looking like a TV chef. He was wiping his hand with a paper towel when he caught sight of the twins.

"Yo."

"You're still here?" Jim exclaimed.

Anne Possible ventured into kitchen with her hand on her hips. "Still? So you did know about him being here?"

"Nana knew about it too?" The twins responded in unison.

"No one likes a tattletale," Nana called out from the kitchen table. "Anyway your mother already knows everything. Still she broke you boys rather easily."

"So does dad know?" Tim asked.

"Of course your father knows. He knows that I asked Ron to come over early and help me whip up a few special dishes for Nana's party tonight."

Tim smiled. "Sure, that's exactly why he's here."

"Sound reasonable to me," Jim added.

"Speaking of specialty meals, we might as well make the best of this situation. Ronald, are you familiar with the Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Cake?"

"Gluten free?" Ron inquired with a slight smile.

"Well, now I am intrigued," Nana said as she lifted a teacup to her lips.

"I'm on it. Mrs. Dr. P, point me to the garbanzos."

"I'm sure we have some in the fridge."

Ron darted off towards the fridge. He threw the door open, bent over at the waist and began to dig inside.

Tim and Jim appeared moments later and leaned against the open door. "So how's she doin?" Tim whispered.

"Who, Kim? You guys concerned?"

"Nah, curious."

"She's doing OK."

"You sure she's OK. Because if we had guess, we'd guess that she wants to pull it off perfectly after just one night of practice," Jim stated.

"And that will be a problem, a big problem," Tim tacked on. "She doesn't like to lose. Losing is not her thing, if she fails to deliver by her standards on this performance things will get awkward."

Jim nodded. "And not the funny kind of awkward but the sad kind of awkward. Which is where you're supposed to come in."

Ron stopped his rummaging and stared at the twins. "I did get the feeling that your sister is super competitive."

"As long as I can remember she's been type A all the way." Jim stated.

Tim shook his head. "Have you seen her eyes when she really wants to win?"

"Yeah, they're shark eyes," Jim muttered.

"Exaggerating much fellas?"

"Hah, we wish. A few years back she was the interim coach for our soccer team. It got real bad. Like ruthless dictator bad." Jim said

"Think Stalin's five year plan." Tim pointed out.

"I get it." Ron returned to the fridge. "So has she ever gotten uber competitive with the rest of the fam?"

Tim shrugged. "I don't think Kim's the type to sweat that kind of stuff. I mean she's zero fun-"

"-Zero fun-"Jim interjected.

"-But still she's tough."

"Well you guys are right about that, your sister is tough. But you won't need me for damage control because this dance is going to go off without a hitch. So prepare for your teenaged minds to be blown."

"Um, OK..." Tim said

"And while you're preparing your minds to be blown, prepare your taste buds, for the best bon-daggity smoked salmon artichoke mini wraps you've ever tasted."

Ron then dove further into the fridge.

"He's excited." Tim remarked.

"I'm excited," Jim grinned. "Hicka-bicka-boo?"

"Hoo-sha"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Noon

The elder Possible brothers sat peacefully under a patio umbrella, hands in pockets, and legs crossed at the ankles; as they stared across the backyard in silence. Apron clad, tray in hand, Ron cautiously approached the two men.

"Salmon wrap, Mr. Dr. P? And Mr—"

"Slim son"

"Right, Slim."

Ron held out the tray. James and Slim each picked up a wrap with one hand and handful of napkins with the others. Ron watched as they brought the wraps to their mouths, bit into it, closed their eyes and grunted at the burst of taste filling their mouths.

"Didn't think I'd have much of taste for salmon wraps but I'd be lying if I said this didn't dill my pickle!"

"What my brother said," James Possible said absently as he took another hearty bite. "You know Slim, Ronald is here also happens to be a fan of Captain Constellation."

After taking a moment to savor his more recent bite Slim sighed. "Oh boy, here we go again."

"Which goes to prove what I've said before, the show is timeless. It's loved by pre-teens to college kids and.…beyond."

"Far beyond I'd say." Slim elbowed Ron in the ribs "Squirt here was a bit of a geek, well that is until Anne showed up. Then suddenly he was more interested in push-ups than Asimov."

"No need to rehash history, Slim," James said through a mouthful. Then he looked over at Ron. "I'm just saying that Ron here would agree with me that it's one of the better written television shows of all time."

Ron nodded emphatically. "I would definitely agree."

Slim shrugged. "I always thought the villains were a tad clichéd."

"That's the point," Ron and James said together.

They exchanged glances before Ron continued. "They're supposed to be clichéd."

"Ronald it seems my brother is not clued into the concepts of irony, subtlety and satire."

"Hold your horses' fellas, it was just a T.V show."

"Just a TV show?" Ron exclaimed with apprehension. "What TV show features all these amazing characters, each with their own story, heroics, and flaws?"

"The development and maturation of Captain Constellation and his crew, as they encounter a universe in crisis, it's all executed to perfection," James proclaimed.

"It's War and Peace in space! I've never read War and Peace but I hear good things," Ron said.

"The complex interactions between the crew-mates and with alien life forms are second to none in the Science fiction community."

"Mr-Slim-Sir-, The season finale of season five-,"

"-Was not only thought provoking but a poignant illustration of the human condition," James continued

"Manly tears were shed."

James nodded emphatically. "Much, many tears."

"Alright, alright, no need to gang up on me now boys. I didn't come to my mother's birthday party fixin' for a fight. How about we change the topic?"

Silence came quickly. A cloud moved across the sun, a cool breeze wafted across the backyard, and for reasons unbeknownst to him, Ron was the one who broke the silence.

"Y'know in Japan they just created a hugging robot. It uh, hugs you when it senses that you're down-and in times of need."

"I'm always looking toward the future but I don't know if people should be hugging a blender in times of need." Slim sighed.

James nodded as he said, "I am a big fan of cybertronics but not when they're used as replacements for human contact."

Inwardly Ron let out a sigh of relief. He had no idea why he had chosen to speak up or even why he hadn't walked away when there had been a lull in the conversation. He had delivered the wraps, the Possible men had enjoyed them, and well like they say in show business always leave on a high note. In fact it was at that moment that Ron realized he could have been walking away instead of wondering why he hadn't walked away.

"Ronald what do you think about man's relationship with machines and nature."

"Mr. Dr. P, nature has tons of ways to kill me, at best a plasma TV will make me lazy or blind. I'll go with the plasma eight times out of ten."

All reflex no thought.

"I suppose…..there's some truth to that," James shrugged as took another quick bite of his wrap.

Ron looked over at Slim who was running his finger through his mustache. A clear sign of puzzlement Ron imagined.

Noooooo! Why did you tell them the truth? People don't even buy plasma TVs its LCD or nothing you fool!

"Hey, I-um-, going to go check on a pie."

"What kind of pie?" James inquired.

"Blueberry."

"Hmmm, sounds delicious."

"Yeah, so-I-just-check-pie."

Ron turned on his heels and walked off. It wasn't the fastest he had ever walked away from a group of people while being shrouded in fear and anxiety. It wasn't even the second fastest he had ever run off, but it was likely in the top five.

What are you doing? Initiating small talk? Speaking without filtering? Blurting out how you really feel? Have you learned nothing man?

"I know, I wasn't thinking. It all happened so fast," Ron muttered to himself as he started up the steps of the Possible back porch.

"Who are you talking too?"

"Gah!"

Reacting quickly Joss reached out and grabbed Ron by the arm before he fell over backwards and down the steps.

"You alright?" She said when he had stabilized his balance.

"No-yes, you startled me. I almost dropped the-food."

"Just breathe now"

"I'm breathing." Ron drew in a sharp intake of breath. "Salmon wrap?"

"Yeah sure-, Were you talking to yourself just now?"

Ron ran his right down his neck. "I can't really say for sure since I wasn't paying attention."

Joss picked up the wrap and brought it up to her lips. "I got a theory about you, but you might find it a little offensive."

Ron shrugged. "If offenses were smells, I would have lost my sense of smell in high school. You know because you can lose your sense of-"

"I get it." Joss interrupted.

"Yeah, so give me your best shot."

"I've seen plenty of television shows and movies about big city girls like my cousin and in a lot of them, the main character has this one platonic male friend. He's usually uh the type that prefers the company of other males."

Ron rolled his yes. "You think I'm…."

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I really mean no offense."

"Don't worry about it. This issue has come up before unfortunately."

As he said that Joss took hearty bites of the wrap and swallowed. "Oh my gosh this here, this here is a bit of a delight."

"Glad you dig it."

"So you can cook something fierce, uh you do any interior decorating in your spare time?"

"Ok kid what you're thinking it might explain a few things," Ron paused. "But not nearly enough, sorry your theory is all wrong, I like girls, not that I have had much success with them to prove that point though. Kim and I are pretty good friends, I know it's hard to see but is it that hard to see?"

Joss swallowed a mouthful. "Ever since she moved out on her own, every chance I've gotten to talk to my cousin, I've asked her to talk about her city life. Friends and such come in pretty late in the conversation, there was always a big drop-off after Monique, whom she loves. And at the very end she might mention a fella she's been seeing."

"Kim's got priorities, she's set serious goals for herself."

"I understand that. But I talked to Kim last night about her city-life before she started practicing. You came up pretty early in the conversation. She enjoys hanging out with you; I'd like to know why?"

"She has a kind heart?"

"It has to be something more than that."

"Well when you figure me out give me a holler. I bet it'll save me some future therapy bills."

With that said he left Joss to enjoy the rest of her meal.

"I must apologize for Joss," Anne Possible said when Ron reentered the kitchen. "I couldn't help but overhear and well she can be a nosy Parker as James would say."

"It's no too hard to figure out when someone's trying to get under my skin. I don't think Joss's the type."

Anne smiled brightly before lifting a small spoon to Ron's face. "Here taste this sauce."

Ron sipped from the spoon and licked his lips. "We're some dice onions and cayenne pepper away from perfection."

"We're fresh out of those." Anne frowned. "Perhaps I'll make run to the store."

"I'll stay here and man the battle stations general." Ron joked with a slight salute, as he watched Mrs. Possible leave the kitchen.

He was heading towards the oven when his brain kicked in once more.

Wait a second there was something far too comfortable about that entire scene just now. I don't think I'm comfortable with this level of comfort.

Ron glanced at the kitchen window just in time to see the tweebs pass by. The boys quickly exchanged a few words and chuckles before they both took turns waving, to his surprise, politely at him.

"The Possibles like me?"

Ron paused to consider the ramifications of such a revelation. He didn't exactly have a history of making correct assumptions. In fact if he died tomorrow he was sure his tomb stone would either read "Life let him down," or "He assumed far too much for his own good." The way he saw it there was always the possibility that he had read the environment wrong and the Possibles were simply really, really, really polite people. Like Zita's parents were, good polite people who didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"Whoops, forgot my keys."

Ron turned as Anne suddenly reappeared and snatched up a pair of keys from the kitchen table. She smiled at him for the second time in a matter of minutes.

"You know Ronald, the day started off perfectly awkward but everything seems to be working out for the best."

"I-uh—I guess it's been fun so far."

"I'm not one to speak for the whole family….but I can tell that everyone has enjoyed having you be part of the festivities."

"You can tell that huh?"

"Yes." Anne said matter-of-factly.

'Well, I've enjoyed being here."

Anne departed once again leaving Ron in the suddenly sweltering kitchen. He stood dumbfounded in the middle of the room before briskly pulling the apron off his body and making a beeline for the Possible's first floor bathroom. Once there he glanced at his reflection in the mirror and pinched himself. Last night there had been bowl of his mother's chili in the fridge that Ron had scarfed down quickly before meeting up with Kim. Clearly he was still sleeping and the spicy chili sauce must have been affecting him. But didn't spicy food give one nightmares and not pleasant dreams?

"So they like you," he told his reflection. "That's good. So far so good. Just maintain for the rest of the evening."

Ron's right pointer finger began tapping furiously on the side of the sink. He felt his chest tighten.

"I'll just be myself, it's worked so far."

Ron turned to leave, unfortunately by the time he had gotten from the sink to the bathroom door, doubt and panic had taken hold, and effectively hampered his motor skills. He found himself fumbling with the doorknob, pulling and pushing at the same time. At one point his hand slipped right off the knob as if it had somehow been encased with grease.

When his panic was reaching its peak Ron drew in a deep breath.

And succumbed to it.

"Be myself, what? When has that ever worked?"

You need to escape! You can't screw it up if you're not here!

Ron looked around frantically wondering to do until he spotted the bathroom window. The window opened out to the side of the house and freedom. But it was very small. Ron quietly pulled up the screen and threaded his arms through the window first, then using a pulling, kicking, wriggling method; he started to drag the rest of his body out after them. The window was relatively small for his frame but fear had pushed Ron's determination into overtime. Half his body was out the window and he was trying to squeeze his waist through window until.

"Ronald?"

"Of course-of course," Ron groaned as he placed his right palm over his face.

Inevitably he peeked through the cracks of his fingers, and the magnetic pull of embarrassment brought him to eye with Nana Possible.

"Grandma P, why are you out here?"

"Well it is my birthday, and in my experience the closer you get to death the more you tend to stroll around."

Ron winced. "That's kind of morbid."

"Some may see it like that. May I ask why you are hanging out of the bathroom window?"

Ron opened his arms out wide. "Isn't it obvious?"

A hush fell like a heavy blanket over the two of them.

"No, I can't honestly say that it is," Nana replied.

"Oh I'm sorry of course it wouldn't be obvious to you, since it's a cultural-religious-a culturally religious thing, I'm uh Jewish."

Nana replied almost immediately. "You know in my younger years I spent a few months in Jerusalem amongst a few other Middle Eastern nations. I do not recall any religious practice that involved windows in such a manner."

"We'll it's um Orthodontist, no that's not the word its…it's you know the guys with the beards, it's on the tip of my tongue-orthopedic-"

"Orthodox?"

Ron snapped his fingers. "That's right orthodox, that's not what this is. This is actually un-orthodox since I'm the only who practices like this."

"I see."

"You're not buying this are you?"

"No, but it's all rather amusing."

"I was trying to escape," Ron sighed.

"Escape? Are you worried about James finding out about last night? If he did find out I can assure you that you do not need to worry about coming to physical harm-"

Ron put his hands up to stop her.

"No, I 'm not afraid of Mr. Dr. P or anybody else in the family, if I'm afraid of anyone its myself."

She gave him a curious stare. "I, I do not understand."

"It's not you guys, it me. I'm really sorry but I've got issues. I don't know if I'm ready for the level of commitment it takes, to keep hiding them from you guys. Actually I don't know if I'll ever be ready for that kind of major commitment, but that doesn't mean I don't like you guys."

"Are you breaking up with this family?"

"I-I guess…"

Nana paused for a moment before speaking. "Ronald, you are under no obligation to stay, especially if being around us makes you feel uncomfortable. And I can understand why, it's possible we've all been acting extra vigorous around you. But that's mainly because Kimberly rarely brings a boyfriend over to meet her family."

"Whoa! No offense Grandma P but I'm more of boy type friend, not a boyfriend."

"Yes, there is quite the distinction I suppose."

"A huge, huge distinction, it's like two identical planets but with different moons, y'know."

"Fair enough….I stand corrected. Kimberley rarely ever brings a friend home and I've gotten the impression that while Kim doesn't need us to like you, she does want us too. And if I got that impression, the others may have as well which would explain their enthusiasm."

"Well Mrs. Dr. P just kind of implied that you guys might like me. Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead, y'know?" Ron said as he bit down on his bottom lip.

"If that's what you want, I can help pull you out." Nana then reached down and took hold of Ron's hands.

"Wait-wait," Ron called out as Nana began to tug. "So Kim doesn't really bring a lot of friends home?"

"Not to my knowledge. It appears to be that you're a special case."

"Then shouldn't I say goodbye before running off in fear?"

"Are you asking me or yourself?"

Ron drew inhaled and exhaled loudly. "Grandma P, can you push me back into the bathroom. KP is a good friend of mine and the least I can do is look her in the eyes before I abandon her."

"Very well."

With significantly less effort that Ron had anticipated, Nana placed both hands on Ron's shoulder and shoved him through the window.

"All clear?"

"Yes ma'am," Ron called out as he climbed up to his feet.

"Ronald, you've implied that you act differently around the family. So what I gather is that what we've seen so far is a somewhat subdued version of Ronald Stoppable?"

"I like to think of it as a normal-er version of myself."

"To quote Frances Moore Lappe, 'I've grown certain that the root of all fear is that we've been forced to deny who we are.'"

"Frances Moore Lappe-Is that the French guy who tight roped between skyscrapers?"

"She is an author."

"Right, well enjoy your stroll Granny P."

"I will."

A/N Thanks for reading, hope you dug it after the long wait. Like I said earlier I am currently working on the next chapter so that's coming soon. And it'll have much more Kim and Ron interaction than this chapter if that has you worried.