Disclaimer: Still don't own Kim Possible. It still belongs to Disney. All I have is my plot line. The thoughts or opinions herein are by no means shared with the writers and/or creators. Poor them.

A/N: So life has had me kind of busy and kept me from writing as much as I'd like to. It hasn't impacted this story as much as my other ongoing story on here, but still, I'm sorry for any undue wait. Please never doubt that your next chapter is coming. I won't fail you. Got a few more stories that I'm currently working on but I'll probably post those upon completion so look forward to those.

Chapter 4: Putting It All Out There

After Ron entered the code the door in front of them slid open to reveal an elevator. Stepping inside Tara saw only one button. Ron pressed it and slowly they ascended to the second floor. Tara wasn't proud of the anxiety she was experiencing but Ron hadn't told her anything and she wasn't sure what a world saving teenager would keep in a secret building. What she saw when those doors opened would change her relationship with Ron forever.

"Ron this is," she hesitated, "… it's a bedroom."

Ron looked shocked, "Tara! This isn't just a bedroom. This is an all purpose bachelor's pad. I've got a full kitchen in the back here for all of my cooking and entertaining purposes. I have a 50" TV here with a WIFI and a range of programming options, along with a full gaming system. There is a full bathroom, a vanity that I put in for KP, that way she can clean herself up after a mission, and a king size bed. And that's all just the upstairs."

"Okay, wow, you're right Ron this is pretty amazing. But what do you mean, just the upstairs? I get the whole elevator thing but if there's a downstairs why make the entrance come straight here," she asked.

"Well the building was originally built as a storage facility, but when I took out the loading bay door here I wanted to use the large open space in the bottom for something else. You see KP and I do a lot of dangerous things on missions sometimes. I wish it weren't that way but I don't wanna lie to you and say that they're safer than they are. Follow me, and you'll see," Ron said as he led her down a set of stairs and into what looked like a large dojo, "I created a full gym and training area here. We can work out, spar, meditate, and over on the left side I have a full steam room and Jacuzzi."

After getting the full tour and returning back upstairs determined to try out the hot tub on her next visit with Ron, Tara couldn't wait any longer and had to ask, "Ron this is all amazing and I can assume where you got the money to pay for all this but what's this all about? What is this and why are you showing it to me?"

"Well, Tara, the what is a little harder to explain but the why is very simple," Ron carried on while rubbing his neck again, "As far as the why goes, while I wasn't trying to hide this place I would've felt less than honest if you didn't know about it. Now as far as what this place is, the truth is that it's where I live. You see my parents have never been home very often, and it's only gotten worse as I've gotten older. When KP and I started traveling around the world to fight these villains my parents were all too eager to make me an emancipated minor so that I wouldn't get stopped by customs every time I tried to return to the country. I don't hate my parents by any means but the truth is that they haven't really acted like parents in a long time. I really needed to get out of that house and so I got this place. I only go to their house occasionally. So, Tara, I guess what I should say is, welcome to my home."

Tara wasn't sure how to feel. Half way through Ron's explanation she'd had to take a seat. He explained it all away so casually, but there wasn't anything casual about it. She'd lived the past several years of her life with an absent father and even though she'd never say anything to her mother, she could feel the pain of it daily. Tara could only imagine what it must feel like to go through, the pain of not having either parent around every day, it must be heartbreaking. She had to take a moment to say a silent thank you to her mother for being there before she could even speak to Ron.

"Tara, are you okay," Ron's voice was now filled with concern after several moments of silence from his girlfriend.

Quietly Tara stood and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck placing a gentle yet passionate kiss on his lips.

After having to pull away for air Ron gasped out, "Wow Tara, what did I do to deserve that?"

"Ron Stoppable," Tara stopped to take a deep breath, "you are the most amazing man I know. No matter the obstacle you always rise to meet it with a smile. I don't know where you get all your strength from but from now on I hope that no matter what happens you know that you have me to turn to. I'm gonna be right here beside you and I'll never abandon you or leave you alone. Believe in me like I believe in you, and no matter what happens you and I will be fine."

The two looked on at each other and began to return to their embrace. Slowly they closed in on each other, arms wrapping around the other's shoulders. Lips closed in until…

Beep-Beep-Be-Beep

Ron rolled his eyes as Wade's face popped up on the screen, "Duty calls."

"Ron we've got a..." Wade's voice trailed off as he realized what he just interrupted, "Uhh, we've got a sitch, Ron. It's Drakken, he and Shego are working off the coast this time."

"Ugh, you mean another under water lair," Ron groaned.

"That's right," Wade snickered, "More importantly what's a girl who's not Kim doing in the Ferret Hole?"

"The what hole," Tara asked through Ron's shushing at Wade.

With a sigh, Ron explained, "It's just a nickname I gave this place. The Fearless Ferret is an old TV show that I really like, and the name is kinda in tribute to that."

Tara giggled as she gave Ron a small peck on the nose, "Never be normal, right?"

Immediately Ron's spirits lifted, "Right!"

Wade cleared his throat reminding the two that he was still present, and more importantly not interested in girls yet, "Anyway Ron, your ride will be there in 10 get ready."

"On it Wade," Ron remarked breaking away from his girlfriend to grab his gear, "and as always you rock!"

Five minutes later Ron ran to the elevator with a nagging feeling in the back of his mind like he was forgetting something.

Tara watched as Ron had run around the room going from one thing to another. She was a bit disappointed that Ron seemed to have forgotten she was there in his zest to get ready for the mission. That is until he started changing. Of course, she turned to look away, but she was still a healthy teenage girl so maybe she peeked, but just a bit. She wanted to say something but as he zipped back and forth she found him in the elevator with the doors closing before any words could leave her mouth. At the last moment, however, a hand shot out that stopped the doors from closing, followed by her boyfriends head popping out.

With a sheepish grin, he addressed her, "Sorry about that, once I enter mission mode everything else just gets blocked out. Not to say you aren't important, 'cause you are, just so are missions, but no because of Kim's there, I mean…. I'll just shut up now."

Tara couldn't help but grin. It was his big heart that she loved most about him. The fact that not even knowing what dangers lay ahead of him, he would still charge in to keep people safe. Ron was not the bravest man in the world, but there was truly no better man.

She smirked at him, "I think I can let it go this time, but next time don't forget me so thoroughly that you start changing in front of me okay? Otherwise, I might feel like I have to make it even," at that, Tara reached down grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it up just enough to see some skin.

Ron could feel all the blood rushing to two very distinct places on his body, and well, one of those was his face. His attempts to reply were nothing more than stuttered consonants. He was so lost he didn't even realize the elevator doors were trying to close again until they smashed his head.

"Would you like a ride," he finally managed with his brain rattled.

"If you don't mind, could I hang around here for a while? I don't want to be a bother," it was her turn to look a little sheepish. This was her first time in a boys room and not just any boy, but her boyfriend.

Giving her one of the grins that melted her heart he replied, "Sure thing, I'll be back late so don't wait up. I'll text you when we're on our way home though."

As soon as Ron left Tara set her plan into motion. His room was meticulous in some areas and a disaster zone in others. For starters, she knew she wouldn't have to do any work in the kitchen because he had left everything thoroughly organized and spotless. The same could not be said for his living room like area, and the area around his bed. For a moment her eyes fell upon his pillow, but just as quickly she tore them away and began collecting laundry. After starting a load in the washer her eyes fell back on his bed for a moment before quickly returning to work. Tara proceeded to sweep the floor, finding she had to take the unused vacuum from its box, she went on to organize his games, put his movies away, and even dust, all the while her eye's would briefly return to his pillow.

Cleaning was one of the things that Tara was good at. She prided herself on how spotless her room and living area was. Even if he didn't see it that way, after all, that Ron had done for her recently, she was determined to pay him back somehow. She knew that Ron might be an organized chaos kind of person, but from the state of the kitchen, it seemed that he did appreciate the value of cleanliness. She found the fridge fully stocked which was no surprise there, and with a diet pop in hand, which must belong to Kim, she went and took a seat. It was actually a full minute before she realized that she had sat on Ron's bed. The war within herself finally lost to her subconscious desire she plunged face first into the pillow breathing in deeply. Was this weird, yes, was she aware of that, very, how would she feel if she got caught, mortified. But still, she sniffed again, and somewhere between the warmth of the bed and the smell of her boyfriend's coconut shampoo embedded in the pillow she was gently lulled to sleep.

"Jeez Ron, next time we are in an underwater lair can you remind me to pack an extra set of clothes? I can't go home like this," Kim's weary voice poured into the darkness of Ron's room.

"Lights," Ron's command instantly illuminated the shadowy room, "What good would that do you? We often take a different ride home than the one we use to get there, in which case you'd have to take the clothes with you, which means they'd get wet anyway. Sometimes don't you wish your hair dryer grappling gun could actually dry hair?"

Both Ron and Kim laughed at that, but it was a weak sound. They had spent the better part of two hours treading water until the man from the shrimping company down in Alabama was able to pick them up. They'd saved his flag ship, The Jenny, from sinking during a storm the year before. Now finally back in town sometime after 11 pm, they were ready to crash. They didn't realize there was a third person tucked away under the covers waking up just as the lights came on. Immediately she realized that she'd fallen asleep and shouldn't still be here.

"Ya know you're welcome to stay here KP," Ron offered.

"Thanks, but I really don't know if your girlfriend would appreciate you keeping a secret like that," her rejection not sounding entirely whole hearted.

Ron looked at her incredulously, "I'm not going to hide it from her. I'll tell her tomorrow KP. We had this big thing where we opened up about all our secrets and everything. Honesty is really important to her, well to us. I'm about to text her now."

Tara felt so touched. No, she didn't exactly like the idea of Kim staying here, but she did understand. She wasn't at all thrilled that Kim had implied that he would hide it from her, but her faith in him was rewarded by his immediate and unwavering assurance that he would be honest. She was almost brought to tears when he'd included himself in her feelings about the importance of honesty. He really could be the one for me.

But that's when Tara realized what Ron had said about texting her. She could feel her phone in her pocket but wondered if she could silence it without being noticed and before the text got sent.

"So you told her everything then," Kim inquired.

Ron grinned fully at his friend, "Yep, even brought her to the Ferret Hole today."

"Wow, that's a big step for you, Ron. But that wasn't the everything I was referring to," Kim's words froze Tara, "Did you tell her about Japan, the Mystical Monkey stuff, and all that? I mean aren't you sworn to secrecy?"

Tara couldn't move. Was this the big thing that he couldn't talk about? If so then why did Kim know? Tara knew that she and Ron had really only just started dating and that Kim had been his BFF and partner for years, but at that moment she felt as though she might never leave Kim's shadow. If she hadn't been crying at that moment what she heard next most certainly would have made her.

Inches away from his hidden girlfriend Ron sat on his bed with a thud, kicking his shoes off, "No," his reply was hollow and lifeless, "and after what she told me today I couldn't feel worse about it. I mean you only know because of that sitch with Sensei and the stuff with Monkey Fist. I mean, yeah, we just started dating, so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad. But, Kim, if you could see her face sometimes, you'd know how much she is putting into this, and how bad she wants it to work. I hate keeping anything from her. I want to tell her everything, but some secrets just aren't mine to tell. I did at least tell her I had secrets. I just hope that counts for something."

It does Ron, it does. Tara's tears streamed as she dug her finger nails into her palms to keep herself from wrapping her boyfriend in an embrace.

"And send."

"What Ron," Kim queried from the fridge.

"Oh sorry, just sent Tara her good night text, it was a long one," Ron chuckled.

Oh, fudge! Tara just realizing that she had forgotten to silence having been caught off guard by the conversation.

KWEH!

The sudden noise sent Ron almost a foot in the air. It only took Kim a matter of moments to leap over to Ron's side. She immediately noticed the form concealed in the blankets and berated herself for missing it earlier.

"Come out," Kim ordered, "Otherwise it's punch first and ask questions later."

"Okay, okay, don't hurt me," came a very familiar muffled voice.

Slowly two pale hands lowered the comforter until a mop of blonde hair and blue eyes could be seen. The two crime fighting teens immediately relaxed and looked back and forth between themselves and the bed. Tara looked ashamed as she slowly emerged from the blankets and set up on the bed subconsciously clinging to Ron's pillow.

Ron knew that he should be gentle at this moment but honestly in his exhausted state he could only think of one question, "Tara, what are you doing here?"

"I.. you see… I was cleaning and then," it was all Tara could do to speak, much less make sense, "then the pillow… and laundry… and a clean kitchen… then the pillow again."

Kim could see the distress between the young couple. Something dark in the back of her mind was taunting her. This is it. Neither of them has the dating experience to navigate this sitch. Use this moment right and you could drive them apart. No, I don't want to do that. That's what you say but look at him. He doesn't know what to feel right now. Take control and take your man. No, I can't. He's my best friend and he chose her. I should help them. He's only hers because that harlot beat us to the punch. Everyone at school knew he was ours but she took him anyway. Really you're only just getting back what she stole, right? Well, everyone did say that they thought we were going to get together. Tara thought so too. So why did she take Ron...my Ron? That's right, sooner or later they'll break up. Then who's going to be there to help him pick up the pieces? We will, because everyone knows that there is no Kim Possible without Ron Stoppable, and vice versa. You're really just doing them a favor making it sooner than later. You're right, you're right… but you're wrong too. Ron and I will always be together. I love Ron, and if he and Tara split up then we'll have our chance. But I won't sabotage his current happiness just for mine. But what if this is your only chance?

Kim felt her heart skip a beat in the moment that went by with all of those thoughts battling in her heart and head. She knew what she had to do, "Okay, calm down you two. Look, Ron, it looks like she just fell asleep by accident after cleaning the place," Kim faced her rival in love, "Isn't that right Tara," the young woman nodded, "No need to stress then. Why don't you get her home and I'll head out too? It's been a long night and we all need to get some sleep. The worst thing you can do in a sitch like this is say something you don't mean when you aren't thinking straight. You can't always come back from that."

Ron and Tara simply nodded. Tara finally released Ron's pillow and collected her things as the three headed to the elevator.

Tara looked to Kim. The person who had potentially just saved her relationship, and the only person she knew who stood to benefit from it ending. She wasn't sure how to feel about Kim right now. First, she had suggested that if she stayed the night that Ron wouldn't tell her, and then she protects their relationship. Having been the only one of the three rested she could think clearly enough to realize the only reason she had done those things was for Ron. She put his happiness, needs, and wants even in front of her own. So she wasn't exactly sure how to feel about Kim, but she knew one thing for sure, Kim was in love with Ron. Still, she felt she owed Kim something, and that started with trust.

"Look, Kim, you are really tired, I don't think it's safe for you to drive home and I really don't mind if you stay here," Tara insisted hoping her face didn't betray her words.

Kim yawned as the door opened and she stepped out of the elevator, "Thanks, but I think it would be best if I take a pass on that. Not that there won't be nights that I might have to, but my adrenaline is pumping right now and the Sloth has an autopilot feature so no worries. I do think that soon… you and I need to have a talk, okay?"

Tara nodded, she knew exactly what Kim meant. Both women filled with the same fear. If that talk ended with them not being friends, what would that do to their relationship with a certain blond boyfriend/BFF?

Ron, however, was back to being tired to the point of complete obliviousness. He gave Kim a hug and his thanks, helping her into her car like a proper gentleman. Then returned back to Tara who was on the phone.

"...I know mom. Yes, you're right. No, he wasn't even here the whole time. I promise I'll explain when I get home, alright, goodbye mom," Tara ended the call and slid her phone back into her pocket, "I really need to be getting home Ron, but I promise we'll talk about this tomorrow."

"That's fine, I doubt I could talk much now anyways. Let's head out," Ron half replied, half mumbled.

"Ron! You can't drive in this state," she almost shouted at him in surprise.

Ron scratched the back of his neck, "Of course not. I'm just going to walk you home."

Shock colored her face once more, "Ron, no. You don't have to do that, you're exhausted. Just go back in and get some sleep."

"No can do beautiful," Ron did his best to do a macho pose, "A true gentleman would never allow a young woman to walk home alone at this time of night. Pappy Stoppable would roll in his grave if he knew I let you go home alone. I won't budge on this."

"Fine Ron," she sighed at her wonderfully stubborn boyfriend. The couple proceeded to hold hands as they walked the twenty-five minutes to her house.

The first thing Tara noticed was he mother waiting on the front porch. Her mother was obviously stressed. Half her hair was up, she was wearing her track jacket above her dress but still had no whistle. Obviously, she was so stressed about the situation that she hadn't known how to handle it. She felt sincerely bad about making her mother worry so much, but she had genuinely enjoyed the walk home holding Ron's hand.

"Young lady, as you know we've never had a curfew set in place. I've always trusted you to make smart decisions. So right now I need an explanation of where you've been and what you've been doing, and it better be good," Tara's mom ordered.

Tara then set into the tale of what happened. She explained going to Ron's place. She'd told her about him being called out for a mission, and having to leave suddenly. Then she went on to explain about how she wanted to repay all of his kindness so she started to clean, and then fell asleep, and then Kim and Ron returning from said mission. The whole tale took about fifteen minutes, but as soon as her mother took her hair down Tara knew that her mother believed her. Tara took a silent moment after all was said to appreciate the relationship she had with her mother.

"Well that certainly explains a few things, and it certainly sounds like something you would do Tara," at that comment, any remnants for a serious expression fell from her face and she laughed softly, "She really is just like an old cat sometimes Ron. Let her run around a bit and then give her somewhere comfy to lie down and she falls right to sleep. I guess whatever you did on the mission explains the outfit, and why you look like a drowned rat that just dried in the sun."

Ron let out a long yawn, "Undersea base, happens sometimes."

"Well now that this is cleared up, Tara go on inside and get to bed. Ron, we look for to seeing you at a more decent time," Mrs. King said.

Ron's head tilted down a bit and emanated a low guttural sound.

"Ron?" Tara asked while reaching out to gently touch her boyfriends shoulder.

A brief snore could be heard from her boyfriend before he began to mumble, "Wa's that extra homework again, ahhh man."

It dawned on both women that Ron had fallen asleep on his feet. Slowly both began to giggle as he stood there and continued to ramble incoherently about school and homework. They knew despite Ron's lanky appearance the amount of muscle that lies beneath the baggy clothes, and while neither was particularly weak, it was only due to a combined effort that they managed to carry Ron into the house and on the couch. His refusal to wake seemed to amuse both women to no end.

Tara's mother watched as her daughter leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her boyfriend's lips. She didn't mean to pry, but her daughter had held back for so long for this one boy. Not that she would ever truly admit it, but mother's know these things. Honestly, she couldn't remember seeing daughter so happy, at least not since her father left. Finally, she crept back to her room to give the young couple a bit of privacy. Despite what the scene earlier may have looked like, she trusted her daughter implicitly.

Tara looked down at her boyfriend, his golden hair highlighted by the starlight streaming through their bay windows. She couldn't help but wonder exactly how he did all the things he did. She couldn't begrudge Kim for loving him, how could she when she felt the same way. Tara knew that Kim might do a big part of the world saving, but it was Ron that kept her going. She couldn't deny that night by the campfire that she felt a small twinge of guilt keeping these two heroes from having their happy ending. After having talked to Bonnie about it, she had agreed that it wasn't really Tara's choice, it was Ron's, and it wasn't her responsibility to make that choice for him.

All of her feelings culminated to on point as she brushed some loose strands of hair from his face, "I love you Ron Stoppable."

And there it was, she'd said it, and she felt really good about it. She proceeded to drape a blanket across him and head to her room. She was just about to round the corner when Ron's mumbling from the couch caught her attention. As tears streaked from her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that she swore she heard him say, I love you too.

A/N: So what did everybody think? I enjoyed writing my little inner conflict with Kim, but I really intend for her to start taking a bit more of a backseat in this story. Of course, since she's not a bad person or anything in my story she will remain a part of Ron's life but I intend for other characters to help round out the Ron/Tara relationship or "Taron" if you will. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It held a lot about Ron in this chapter so keep these things in mind. For those of you who are a bit upset about the way I am rearranging episodes please keep in mind that this is my A/U and I'm playing with it as I see fit.

A/N2: Many of you guessed that Ron's place would be a training area but no one guessed it'd be where he lived. So the first person to guess that was Kakerot Bardockson. So his power will be added to the story and you will see that at a later date. Lastly, I'm not going to continue listing my likes/faves. I am truly sorry about that because I appreciate all of you but my other story is above 100 now and it's getting hard to keep track of and in the spirit of fairness I'm stopping all of it.

Reviews: (12 new reviews uhhh yes please and thank you)

Kakerot Bardockson: Well bud I feel like your answer was the closest to being correct so I'll add your power suggestion somewhere down the road. Be looking for it.

Jimmyle311: Maybe so, but is anything in Ron's life ever that simple, that's all I'll say for now.

Daniel6: Well I had no intentions there but it is what it is. Glad you are enjoying the story thus far and I hope you continue to do so.

CajunBear73: I really don't know how far I'll take that flirting. I like using it as a naughty tidbit that encourages the two to take steps further, ie the hand holding.

DJ Rodriguez: I will always answer my reviews no matter how many there are. I'm glad that you seem to be enjoying the story so much. It gives me encouragement to keep writing, so again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will be fully exploring a range of emotion for Tara through this story and Sunny isn't going anywhere anytime soon so enjoy her chaos she throws into their relationship. As with Yamanouchi, I hope you liked the partial reveal there. I left it hanging to be addressed at another time. Both Kim and Ron were so out of it that neither realized what she must have heard, but Tara now knows something, and that will have to be addressed.

The Book of Eli: Oh yeah, Tara's mom is going to be a major player in these stories. Look forward to seeing more of her.

NeoTyson: So the MMP wasn't talked about but I threw the partial reveal in there for me to play with as the story goes on. And when it comes to us updating on the same night I mean what can I say. Great minds, ya know.

FF8cerberus: Keep guessing, I wonder what you'll think when the story gets further.

The Keeper of Worlds: Well, here's more.

ChampionOfTheHearth: Thank you for saying so. I take that compliment very seriously. Here's the next one lol.

1989bronco4x4: Thanks for reading it bud. Glad you enjoyed Tara's moms flirtatious side. And you know what they say, like mother, like daughter. I liked your guess too. The global justice thing was a unique perspective and I always appreciate those.

ghost scribbler: I'm glad there are some other like minded indviduals out there. Or at leaset you see where I'm coming from lol.