Between a Kim and a Hard Place

Chapter 5- Finale

By: FortressMaximus

A/N-Well, here it is. I appreciate everyone's patience while I finished this story. While the first four chapters came like gangbusters, this chapter had the dubious pleasure of being waylaid by a strong reemergence of my Digimon and Jackie Chan muses, not to mention some real world weirdness that I'm glad-in a way-is over.

I do hope the chapter was worth the wait, and you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

I know I only have two stories in the KP Universe, this and 'Say the Word' (which is next on my to do list) but I would like to ask you to consider me a candidate for the upcoming Fannie Awards in Best New Writer and (possibly) Best Short Story IF I can sneak them in under the word count. I'd like to have the bearings of chrome steel to ask for Best Romance, but considering some of the wonderful works out there this year I'm going to just put 'Between' out there and lets the fans decide.

Again, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who's left a review and waited patiently for this final installment.

Thank you and, of course, any and all thought are greatly welcomed!

FortressMaximus January 20th, 2008

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Ron sat on the edge of the bed, feeling as if he'd had a lair dropped on him.

Maybe TWO lairs, judging by the size of the headache he woke up with.

With a deep sigh he stood, shakily making his way out the door and towards the bathroom as the need for relief took a bit more importance than the pain that seemed to bounce around his head like a possessed Ping-Pong ball.

Reaching the bathroom and with his left hand firmly against the wall, Ron steadied himself with his right and let nature take it's course. (Man, my aim is shot this morning...) he halfway mused, finally finishing and cleaning up his mess after a few minutes. Bleary-eyed, the teen splashed water on his face and patted himself dry with a nearby hand towel. It was only then did Ron realize he looked almost as bad as he felt. Bloodshot eyes looked back at him, his hair-while never in the most fashionable of styles- lay tangled beyond recent memory and sat in a matted mess atop his head. His PJ top was askew; buttons nowhere close to being lined up. Even worse, his bottoms were doing their level best to help him hit the high notes.

But for all the pain his outward appearance presented, it was nothing to the sick, empty numbness he felt inside as the events of last night flooded into his memory unbidden. Feeling as if he might puke, Ron stood back over the toilet once more-just in case-but no physical relief came up from his stomach. The dull ache continued and with a sigh he slowly made his way back to bed. All he wanted right now was to crawl under the covers and submerge himself in the all -comforting darkness of his sheets and comforter.

Grateful he still had some Smarty Mart aspirin in his night stand drawer, he downed two in the hopes of warding off the still-pounding headache that now seemed anchored firmly in his temples.

Just as he was about to lie back down, the ever-present photo of him with Kim at a long-ago Middleton Days caught his eye. Sitting up once more, he plucked the frame from the crowd of items on the night stand and stared at the glossy image for a long moment. Another deep sigh escaped his lips as the put it back down and crawled into bed, his gaze still fixated on the photo of happier times.

"I'm sorry Kim."

"About what Ron?"

The boy blinked, taken aback by the fact he heard Kim's voice as clear as day. He was a bit shaken until he realized it was her voice in his mind 'talking' back to him. ( Great, I'm having a conversation with myself...) he mused, wondering if he still sane, or if one of the first signs of madness was that he could so clearly imagine Kim's voice it was like having her right beside him.

"Guess if I can still ask myself that question then I suppose I'm still sane..I think..." he muttered to the empty air, his headache being made worse by tackling philosophical questions at...ugh...eight-thirty in the morning.

"Of course you're sane Ron; why wouldn't you be?"

Resting his head on the fluffy pillow, the teen decided that if he was going to have a mental conversation with 'Kim' if would be good practice for when he saw her next; at least he could practice his apology before she ended their romance...and friendship...forever. Still looking at Kim's picture, the boy half-shrugged..."After what happened last night Kim, I don't know...".

There was a long pause, as if the part of him 'playing' Kim didn't know how to respond to that. Guessing whatever weirdness that had started the conversation vanished Ron was about to turn over when...

"You're still sane Ron; but we do need to talk about last night."

"Noting to talk about Kim. I messed up real bad, and now you're going to dump me. Can't say I blame you either."

"Why would...what makes you think I'm dumping you?"

"I was a jerk Kim! I ...I thought about you in a way that I shouldn't and..and I treated you like I was some...some stupid Jock! Pawing...and..touching you like some kind of... horn dog on the make!"...he almost growled, his self-anger almost a tangible weight on his shoulders. Realizing he needed to step back, Ron paused and tried to gather his thoughts. "I can't talk like that around the real Kim! If I yell, she'll think I'm mad at her and I'm not. It's MY fault and I'm not going to let her take the blame for something she didn't do!"

"Ron, it's not all your fault; I was there too remember?. Maybe...maybe we both should have talked about all of this sooner. If we had, what happened last night wouldn't have taken us both by surprise like it did."

"It's all my fault Kim, and I'm not going to let you take blame just because I can't...can't control myself!" he said to the picture, wondering why the 'Kim' part of his mind wouldn't just let it drop.

"Are you...is that what you really think Ron?"

Ron said nothing as he snuggled down into the covers, now determined to ignore the little voice.

"Is that why you won't look at me? Are you that ashamed of..of wanting to be closer to me?"

"I'm looking at your picture Kim, what more do you want?!"

A gentle touch fell upon his shoulder. "Ron, look at me...please?"

The blood in Ron's body froze to a slushy crawl as he slowly looked over his shoulder. There, on the other side of the bed, was Kim Possible.

The real, honest-to-God, in the flesh Kim Possible.

"KP!!"

With one of his patented 'screams of manly courage', Ron Stoppable frantically tried to escape the smothering confines of his covers and-with more grace than Kim would have guessed possible-fell right off the bed and onto the floor with a resounding THUD.

A stark silence filled the room as the two looked at each other. Confusion was clear on the young woman's face while near-panic raced across the face of her BFBF. Tentatively, Kim reached towards Ron, only to have her friend flinch at the nearness of her hand and subconsciously inched away from her.

Kim's heart broke in half in the moment, but she knew that-judging from the look on Ron's face-he didn't even realize what he had done. She took another moment to steady her emotions and withdrew from his personal space. "Ron...what's wrong?"

"W-what are...what are you DOING here KP?" he asked, though it came out much more demanding than intended.

"I was here last night; don't you remember?"

The already ashen look on the boy's face somehow became lighter as the night before again danced across his mind's eye. "L...last night?"

With a soft nod and a gentle smile, Kim tried to keep her voice from quivering. "That's right Ron. I came over here last night. I used the spare key to let myself in so we could talk. Doesn't any of this ring a bell?"

Racking his brain, the whole evening still came out a jumbled mess. "I..I don't know Kim. I remember..the lake..and..OH..GOD..you! I...I left you at the lake!" he shouted, standing up with some success as he grabbed the corner of the night stand to keep himself upright. "Oh Kim, I'm so sorry! First I try to hurt you, then I abandoned you there! I'm the worse boyfriend in the universe..." he whimpered, the pain in his voice thick and heavy.

"Ron, it's OK! You didn't mean to leave me; things just got a little...weird...that's all! It wasn't your fault and I got home all right!" she countered, trying to reason with her distraught boyfriend.

"No, it's not Kim! I was a sick idiot so stop defending me!"

"Dammit Ron!" she yelled, her temper flaring for a moment and catching him off guard by both her tone and her cussing for the first time in a non-mission sitch. "You...we...were confused Ron. Neither of us were thinking straight, but that doesn't mean you were doing anything wrong!"

"KP, I almost tried to have sex with you!"

"And I almost let you!"

The pair stood there in the sudden silence as it engulfed the pair. Stunned by the admission of the other, both Ron and Kim felt their faces turn beet red as each looked at the floor for the longest time. It was finally Kim who found her voice first.

"Ron...please..sit down?"

"KP, I should just leave...".

"Um, It's your house Ron...".

"Oh..yea. Right. Uhm..did you...you know..want to...come back...later...maybe?"

"No."

Blinking, Ron finally met Kim's gaze and the latter could see the fear still prevalent in the boy's eyes. "Kim...if you stay...I might..."

"Might 'what' Ron? Hit me?"

"Wha...NO! I would never do that!"

"But that's what you're afraid of, isn't it? Hurting me somehow." she said, fixing him with an even look. "If I stay, what will you do to hurt me? Slap me? Throw me to the floor? Use your Mystical Monkey Powe..."

"STOP IT! Please KP, stop saying things like that! I would never use my powers on you! I couldn't...I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did any of that to you!"

"They why do you think you'll hurt me just by being close? You weren't hitting me, or slapping me, or using your MMP. You weren't hurting me last night either Ron...I promise you that."

"But..but you said not to...kiss you...or touch you. You said...'Don't...stop..." and I did Kim. Remember? You asked me to stop and I did! I just...I should have tried harder to not let it go that far! I tried! I promise you I tried Kim..." he said urgently, as if begging Kim to believe in his words.

"I know Ron, but...what I said isn't what I meant.." she said, sighing as the sitch was getting more confusing than before. "Ron...please..." she said, once more offering her hand..."sit down?"

"Kim..."

"Ron...I trust you; I trust you more than anyone else in the world." she said with every ounce of honesty she possessed.

Those simple words brought a ghost of a smile to the boy's lips; the first of the whole conversation. Hesitantly he let go of the night stand and peeled the mass of bed sheets from around his form. Finally back in his PJ's, the youth gingerly took Kim's hand and sat down on the bed as his gaze fell to the floor.

A gentle caress upon his hand brought his gaze back up to Kim's as her hand wrapped around his own. "Ron, last night...when I said 'Don't...Stop...'" she whispered, trying her best to mimic the same way of saying the words her mom had used..."it wasn't for you to stop. What I meant to say was 'don't stop' doing what you were doing."

Blinking as the two different ways of saying the phrase registered in his mind, Ron slowly began to realize his...their...mistake. "So...you wanted me to keep kissing you...right?"

Another tint of red crossed Kim's cheeks as she nodded. "You see Ron...it wasn't anyone's fault; we just..."

"Had an akweird moment?"

Smiling, Kim laughed softly. "Something like that."

Ron didn't share in the laughter, but his smile grew a little. "Guess I should have paid more attention to Mr. Barken in English. Or would that have been Grammar?"

The mood lightened slightly as Kim continued to hold Ron's hand in hers, wanting to say more but not willing to push the fragile understanding they had forged. Several more minutes of silence went by until he looked over at her.

"Did you mean what you said earlier about...us?"

"About us what?"

"You..and me...um...together..".

A flush of embarrassed fear chilled Kim to the bones, but the young woman new she couldn't hid her feelings any further; her mom helped the heroine understand how important this conversation was to their future. "I think...you and I would have stopped before ...IT...happened Ron, but I know that you and me...we'd know a lot more about each other this morning if things had continued on."

Burying his head in his hands, Ron shook his head and muttered something to himself.

Or so he thought.

"Ron Stoppable, you are not going to take another cold shower! I don't care why you've been doing that, but it's going to stop right now!"

(How did she know about that?!) he asked himself, now looking at her with disbelief etched across his face.

"And don't you EVEN think about forcing yourself to watch another monkey movie! You KNOW what those do to you!"

(No way...) is what he thought. What he said out loud was..."Kim...you don't understand. I...I have to take those showers; I don't have a choice."

"Your're right Ron; I DON'T understand. Why would you force yourself to take cold showers and watch monkey movies when you hate both?"

Ron's face scrunched up slightly as he tried to reign in his emotions. "Kim, you don't understand and it's not important for you to. Just...don't make me promise to stop, okay?"

"No, it's not okay Ron! I'm not going to just let you tear yourself apart over forcing yourself to watch monkey movies! You know those give you nightmares!"

"Darn it Kim! I hate to take those showers and watch those movies, but I don't have any choice!"

"Why not?!"

"Because I can't stop dreaming about you that's why! Every night it's the same and it's sick and it's wrong!"

"Ron..."

Grabbing her by the shoulders, Ron's face was a mix of agony and embarrassment, but the words now had a life of then own and he couldn't stop them from flowing.. "You don't know what it's like Kim! Every night I think about you, beside me...BENEATH me, calling my name, begging me to make love to you!" It was then the tears started to fall and his body began to shake..."I tried to stop them Kim, but I wasn't strong enough! Without the showers...and the monkeys...all I can think about is you...with me...together...".

Kim sat there for a moment, taken back by the intimate picture painted by Ron's words. It was then she pulled him into a powerful hug and held him close. But how do you truly console someone who hated himself just for having the most typical of dreams.

"Ron, those kind of dreams are normal for people our age..." she whispered, gently caressing his cheek with her fingertips. "Just because you dream it doesn't mean you're a bad person."

"Yes, they do."

Kim continued to hold him close. "Why?"

"You...you don't deserve to be thought of like that Kim." he replied, finally meeting her gaze. "You're so beautiful and perfect; people like you shouldn't be thought of...like that."

"I'm not perfect Ron; you know that. I have my faults like everyone else. If it wasn't for you, who know where my 'Kimness' would have taken me by now. People our age have those kind of dreams Ron; you, Felix, Monique, even Wade in a few years. Even me...".

It was then he froze in place, fixing her with a doubtful look.

"It's true Ron. You think boys have a lock on the 'naughty night dreams'?"

His expression soured. "You're a girl, it's not the same."

At THAT she did a double-blink. "Oh, really? Why not?"

"With girls it's about knights and white horses and being carried off into the sunset.." he explained..."for a lot of guys...it's more about the physical stuff."

She sat there, trying to figure out if Ron was being dense on purpose, trying to derail the conversation or if he truly believe that. Deciding it was honestly more the latter, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

( Mom, you said we couldn't be embarrassed; shame you didn't tell me how to DO that...)

"Sometimes Ron, late at night, I put PandaRoo in my closet."

Not quite sure what that had to do with the current conversation, the boy simply nodded. "Ooookay...".

"I still love him, but...I don't want him to see. It's stupid, I know...but when he's not looking is the only time I can...dream about you."

"About...me?"

Kim nodded, trying her very best to ignore the flaming bit of crimson seemingly now permanently stained on her cheek. "Sometimes we're in a snowbound cabin in the mountains, or in a tent under the stars in Yellowstone. One time it was on the beach, like in that old movie. A lot of the times you don't even ask; I just look into your eyes and I know what you're asking. When I'm with you, it's always so gentle and tender. You always think of me first before yourself and I KNOW that I'll never regret a single moment we share together."

Ron's eyes widened as he began to slowly understand both what Kim was...and was not... saying. But the young woman missed the look, adrift in telling her own innermost thoughts to the one man she trusted beyond anyone else on the planet.

"I know it's just a fantasy Ron, but sometimes I forget that. For a few minutes it's real and it's YOU there...beside me...inside me...and I finally know what it must feel like to share yourself with someone body and soul."

He wanted to say something...ANYTHING...to let Kim know that he finally understood what she was talking about, but the words avoided him. Instead, his mind was racing with a simple but profound realization: if someone like Kim had the same kind of dreams he had, did that mean it really was okay to think of her...like that?

"Sometimes, I'll tell PandaRoo the next morning; I mean, he deserves to know WHY he was put in the closet right? And I know he won't judge me, or think of me like some kind of... tramp...for thinking of you like that...". Kim's voice trailed off, not sure what else to say but glad she remember her mother's earlier threat about her word choices.

Ron blinked, shaken out of his own thoughts by the self-depreciating label Kim used towards herself. "KP, that word...it's not you. It doesn't even come close to describing you and it never will!" he said, voice rising momentarily before lowering back to normal.

A heavy quiet filled the air between the pair, each debating on what to say. Between Kim's admission of her desire for Ron and the Ron's realization that his desire for Kim wasn't as wrongsick as he thought, the night they almost shared seemed more like a missed opportunity now rather than a disaster they avoided. But still, something was bothering Ron and he knew that if Kim could tell her darkest secrets to help him then he could do no less for her.

"I'm scared I won't be any good Kim...".

The redhead looked up, surprise etched on her face. "What?" she asked softly, not sure if she heard him correctly or not.

Sighing, he looked at her for the first time in minutes. "What if I'm no good Kim? What then? Is that when you finally realize that I'm not worthy to be your boyfriend and you dump me?"

At first she wanted to laugh. Then she realized how serious he was.

(Uh-Oh.)

Taking another few moments to gather her thoughts, she looked over at her boyfriend. "Is that was this is all about Ron? You're worried that I'm going to leave you just because something neither of us has even done might not be perfect the first time we try?" It came out a bit more sarcastic than she meant, but if he picked up on the mistake he didn't show it.

"Yea...no. Kinda."

Biting her lower lip at the less-than-helpful reply, Kim tried another tact. "Ron, we both know that all the locker room talk we hear is ninety percent lies and the other ten is highly debatable. If the guys on the team are giving you grief just because we haven't done 'IT' yet..." she started to say, hoping it was just a bad case of locker-room bravado that upset Ron. Lord knows she had a few bouts with the same sitch when Bonnie would brag about her and Brick...in detail.

Ron turned to look at her, eyes slightly narrowed. "Kim, even I know that junk is full of more bologna than your average serving of Mystery Meat. It's just..." his voice trailed off for a moment before he found the courage to continue..."Kim, there are so many things I do so badly, and don't say that's not true because we both know I'm right."

Wincing internally at his tone, all Kim could do was nod and let him continue.

"What if...what if this is the final thing that makes you realize I'm not the guy who's best for you? You deserve to be loved and celebrated and...treated like a goddess. That's not putting you up on a pedestal KP; for me it's the truth. What if being the man you deserve...physically ...isn't something I can't step up to? You deserve a life full of passion and love. I can love with all my heart and soul, but if I can't give you the passion you deserve...I don't deserve you."

"Ron, it's so ferociously wonderful that you care that much about me; there's not a woman out there who wouldn't kill to find someone as honest and caring as you..." she softly stated, squeezing his hand gently. "But passion is something we're BOTH going to have to learn as we go. Someone told me..not long ago...that being in love is the start of the worlds' greatest adventure. We're on that path together Ron, and we can't tell what's around the next bend. But together, we'll figure it out step by step. I'm NOT going to leave you Ron-not today, not tomorrow...not EVER."

The growing smile on Ron's face was welcome relief to the cheerleader as she finally was able to alleviate Ron's fears. Of course, Kim was no stranger to the various worries that plagued her boyfriend on a semi-regular basis-these same issues would pop up again down the road. However, knowing the base of the worries she knew in her heart they would overcome them together.

Another bout of quiet hovered between them, just holding hands and letting their presence comfort the other. It was Ron who finally spoke..."So...KP...where to we go...from here...wait a minute..."

"Humm?"

"Uhm..KP? You said you came over last night...right?"

"Yes."

"And you were here this morning when I woke up right?"

"Uhm...yea Ron. You saw me sitting beside you while ago remember?"

"True. So...I take it you didn't like...go home and come back?"

"With my best friend-boyfriend in trouble? No way!"

"So...that means you spent the night right?"

"Ron, you're asking a lot of questions but you're not really going anywhere with them..."

"KP YOU SPENT THE NIGHT!" he shouted as he stood, chest heaving as he started to hyperventilate. "That's it! Game over! The Ron Man's gonna be the first guy to be shot into the sun!"

Kim blinked, finally realizing what her boyfriend was freaking out about. "Ron! Ron listen to me...it's okay! Dad's not going to shoot you into space!"

"KP! I don't wanna get shot into the sun! I have freckles; I don't tan, I burn! Kim, I can't afford that much sun block!"

Before another panicked observation could escape Ron's lips, they found themselves under attack from two very warm and very moist lips that just happened to belong to one Miss Kim Possible. Kissing with as much passion as the night before, Kim let herself flow into the moment, hands drifting up the back of Ron's PJ top to caress his shoulders under the flannel material. Ron, taken by total surprise, could only stand there and return the kiss with as much passion he could muster. Kim deepened the kiss a little more as she felt Ron's hands on her hips, smiling at how wonderful it felt this time without all the worry and fear from the night before. They kept that up for several long seconds before each pulled away, the pounding of their own hearts becoming warning drums that could not be circumvented.

"Boo-Ya..." whispered Kim, borrowing Ron's favorite phrase as the pair leaned on each other's forehead.

"Spankin'..." replied Ron, stealing a phrase himself.

At that the red-haired woman giggled. "Oh, were you dreaming about that too?" she teased playfully, almost falling down with laughter as Ron realized what she meant.

Now totally beet red, Ron couldn't find the words to admonish Kim, but his eyes easily begged her to not suggest that again or he'd implode on the spot. ":S...So...no space launch?"

"Daddy knows I'm here Ron; why do you think I'm not scared? Besides, Missions usually get me a little more leeway in the curfew department."

Ron blinked. "I was a mission?"

"My most important one ever."

He blushed, but said nothing else content to just hold Kim for a few minutes more.

Kim reached down and took Ron's hand in hers and without a word gently guided him back to bed. Before the young man could protest, Kim kissed his cheek. "I'm tired-you're tired so we need to take a nap."

"A...nap...together...in the same bed?"

She nodded. "Like I said, I trust you Ron. Besides, you asked what was next and this is it; one baby step at a time."

"The Ron-Man's all about the slow and steady KP..."

With a graceful tug the pair fell onto Ron's bed and-as if two separate pieces finally made whole-locked together in an innocent embrace. So powerful was their love the shadows of fear that had gripped the young man no longer held sway and both slept the sleep of angels.

"Rufus, I'm so sorry I made you worry...". Ron started to apologize, but a tiny 'talk to the hand' brought him up short. Kim had told Ron about Rufus and his brush with the owl after the pair had woke up earlier in the day. Of course, Ron tried to hold himself accountable for his bud's injuries, but the rodent would hear nothing of it.

Nor would Kim.

With a grin, Rufus leaned against Kim's elbow and assuming a very 'Naked Mole Rap' pose the rodent grinned. "Me and Kim-got Ron's back!"

Ron scrunched up his face for a second before the trio fell into gales of laughter as the smell of brainloaf echoed up the stairs from the kitchen. Inside Anne and James looked at each other and smiled, beyond grateful that whatever had transpired the night before between daughter and boyfriend seemed to put things back to normal for the pair.

Just WHAT that 'what' was they didn't know...yet...and that worry was etched on James's face. Anne knew her husband was worried about how far Kim went to put things right between the two but was trying his best to not second-guess his daughter. The pair looked up as Kim entered with empty soda glasses for a quick refill.

Kim paused to give her mom another deep hug, grateful that her advice helped restore Ron's battered emotions to normal. "Thank you for everything. I think we're going to be okay now...". she whispered softly, the anger that had clouded her judgment the night before now replaced with a deep glimmer of hope for their future.

"I'm so glad to hear that Kimmy!" Anne replied, giving her daughter another powerful hug. It was then she slightly nodded towards James and Kim understood. Walking over, she gave her dad an equally powerful hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you too, Daddy...for trusting me..for trusting us." she said, knowing that he would have never gave his permission if Ron had not proven himself worthy of that trust time and again.

James smiled and nodded, folding his paper aside to hug his daughter. "I've always trusted you Kimmie-Cub, I just...didn't say it enough. With Ron..well, I trust him...but I was a boy too and I remember how they think. Now, I know you think I'm an old fuddy-duddy..."

"Daddy, you're smart and kind and I love you so much! All dads have trouble letting go, and...maybe...I'm not quite ready to let go myself.. " she whispered, bringing a grateful smile to the elders' face.

"Heya KP! You gotta come check this out!" came Ron's voice from the tweebs room/workshop/disaster area.

Having heard no explosions, Kim wondered what was up. With a kiss on the cheek to both parents the teen hero made her way upstairs and peeked around the corner.

"What the...?"

Rufus was standing up, decked out in the same blue and white material Kim's Battle Suit was forged of. Despite the leftover pain from the owl attack the night before, the naked mole rat did a surprisingly good job of breaking in the suit. From the force bubble to invsi-cloak, jai-li energy gauntlet to built-in grappler, the super-small outfit matched Kim's move for move.

"Woah guys.." muttered Ron two the two twins standing proudly beside their creation..."I'm impressed. How long before you can get the Ron-Man a kickbutt suit!?"

The pair of youths glanced at their sister, who was shaking her head 'NO' as subtly as possible. Ron missed the exchange, still focused on the warrior mole's workout.

"Uhm...we used the last of the material Ron"
"And Wade can't get anymore right now"
"Without calling in some major government favors"
"And he kinda needs to save those for emergencies..."

Kim was impressed; if the twins plans to be scientists didn't work out, they could always go into politics with their ability to 'adapt' the truth.

"Awwww, man...that tanks..." sulked a dejected Ron as Kim sat beside him, grateful Ron seemed to accept the reasons put before him. With a kiss on the cheek (and twin barfing motions by Jim and Tim off to one side) Ron slowly regained his smile. "Hey, no worries! I've got mad skills that no suit can do!" he bragged, bringing a grin to Kim and Rufus's face.

"But where did you come up with the idea for it tweebs?" asked Kim, a bit curious as to when the idea started.

"Actually, we got it in a dream Kim!" came the duel reply.

"A dream?"

"Yea" started Jim, getting the 'go ahead and start' look from his mirror-brother. "We had this dream where a chipmunk came and gave us the drawings of a Rufus-sized battle suit!"

Ron and Kim looked at each other. "A chipmunk?" they both asked at the same time.

"I know, it's weird but it was a great idea!" said Tim as he took over the explanation. "See, this chipmunk in a Fedora and bomber jacket..."

"Hold on Tim.." interrupted Jim, a puzzled look dawning on his face. "When we talked about this morning.." he said, not mentioning the two were up most of the night off and on only halfway sleeping as they worried about Rufus..."you said it was just a chipmunk; you didn't say anything about what he was wearing."

So? We're twins! We have the same dreams sometimes..." he started to say, but paused when the saw the look his brothers' face. "What?"

"In my dream, the chipmunk was wearing a red Hawaiian shirt...".

As the two debated on the dream, Rufus used his foot-paw to gingerly push the twin sheets of paper off the back of the bed, under the headboard and onto the floor. As the papers fluttered into the mass of comic books and CD's, he knew he had done the right thing.

There were some secrets not even HIS humans could ever know about.

At least...not yet.

The important thing was his Human was okay now; Ron's mate would be there when he could not and that meant more to the naked mole rat than he could ever find the words to say.

With a sigh to himself, the rodent smiled. At long last, things were back to normal.

Well, as normal as they got in the life of Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable.

Epilog

-----

The loaned cabin had been a graduation gift from Mr. Paisley; a long overdue favor for helping save him and his CuddleBuddie collection all those years ago.

The avalanche was complements of Professor Dementor and his stealing of the Pan-Dimensional-Vortex-Inducer..AGAIN. Kim and Ron had stopped the diminutive scientist from trying to rule New Zealand ( something about making a fortune in movie royalties ) but the resulting victory rapidly turned bittersweet. They had only just made it back to the cabin when the roaring torrent crashed down upon them, trapping them inside.

Wade had their location pinpointed within seconds, but Kim and Ron knew both local and international search teams would be stretched thin in the vastness of the remote mountains.

"We've got plenty of food and water Wade; tell rescue services to focus on everyone else first. If anything changes, we'll let you know."

"No problem guys; I'll take care of everything on my end.." replied the young genius. With a grin he started to close the connection..."Oh..and guys?"

"Yea Wade?"

"Don't lose your cool!" he joked, closing the link before Kim could think of a suitable reply.

"You've been giving him humor lessons again, haven't you?" the redhead playfully accused her companion.

"Hey, the Ron-Man has got to pass along his skills to the next generation!" he replied, dodging a soft slap at his shoulder from the long-suffering young woman.

"How about the Ron-Man start a fire before we freeze?" Kim suggested, hand on her hips.

Realizing he was treading on thin ice Ron nodded and started the fire. After getting that done and fixing a light dinner of soup and sandwiches, the pair stretched out on the fake bearskin rug. The crackling warmth filled the small cabin as the two cuddled close. For the past several nights they had fallen asleep there, beyond content to enjoy each other's company in the stillness of the night.

But this night was different.

The caresses were more passionate, the touches more intimate. Any words they tried to say came out lost in gentle whimpers which in time turned into soulful moans. It was then his deep brown eyes met hers of green, and the most profound of understandings passed between them.

With only a simple nod, Kim answered the unspoken question shining bright in Ron's eyes, and slowly the pair slipped into a lovers embrace. There was no hesitation; no fear. The horrors of that night long past were obliterated in a single passionate moment when two souls finally became one.

Anne Possible jerked upright in her bed, a sudden sensation waking her from a sound sleep. James still slept undisturbed; years of marriage to a doctor always on call had gave him the ability to sleep through most anything.

Slipping into her robe, the woman walked into the living room, pausing at the stairs that led up to Kim's loft. Treading carefully, she made her way to her daughters window and looked out into the night sky, focusing on a single bright star in the distant firmament. "She's yours now Ron; please watch over my baby..." Anne whispered, knowing-but not sure HOW-what had disturbed her slumber.

With a soft sigh Anne decided to return to bed; if James woke up her absence might worry the man. He was going to have a hard enough time once Kim and Ron's night together became known to the two pair of parents and she didn't want to add to it. Pausing for a moment, Anne fiddled with Kim's bed straightening it as moms are want to do. Satisfied it now met her parental criteria, she started to leave pausing only to take one last look at her daughter's room.

Blinking, she turned away and slowly made her way back to her bed, shaking her head at how tired she must be.

After all, for a moment, she thought she saw PandaRoo smile.

FIN

A/N 2--Just for the record, I take no responsibility for any sudden increase of Chip and Dale Rescue Ranger muses that happen to guest star Rufus. Total coincidence!