A/N: As I said in the summary, this is a songfic and the first one I've ever taken a try at. I happened to be listening to this song while KP was on, and well, this fic was the result. At first I had no idea why Kim and Ron would be on a ship, but as if on cue, Cap'n Drakken aired. So with a bit (okay al lot) of tweaking, I ended up with this. The song isn't until around end, but it's in there. Hopefully all of you songfic lovers won't start a mob after me if I murdered this type of story.

Disclaimer: A part of this story is word for word from the episode 'Cap'n Drakken'. I tried to avoid it, but it sounded too weird without it. So I especially don't own that part. Nor do I own 'Into the Ocean' by Blue October. And I don't own anything KP related. Basically, I own squat.

Anyway! On to the story!

The first thing that greeted him as he regained consciousness was the unnatural, sickening movement of the very ground beneath him. A thin sheet of water covered the uncomfortable wooden floor, which flowed in sync with the lurching floor. There was a steady drip drip drip as even more water leaked from the ceiling and fell onto the water soaked ground.

Recognition of the pain in his throbbing head quickly followed. He shook it off and tried to become more familiar with his surroundings. The brig he was sitting in was dimly lit by a few flickering torches that were mounted on the rocking ship’s walls. The scarce light they gave off danced along the surface of the shifting water.

Outside, he could hear the sounds of massive waves crashing against the ship, thrown up due to the raging storm. A clap of thunder reverberated throughout the dingy brig, loud enough to pierce even the vessel’s thick oak walls.

The young captive shifted, feeling the ropes he was bound by dig against his soaked skin. He was tied to something, something soft. His wet hair fell in his face, making it hard to see. Giving a toss of his head to remove the obstructing blonde mess, he groaned, instantly regretting the movement as his head began to ache. At least he could see again.

Twisting around as far as he could, Ron Stoppable saw what, or rather who, he was tied to. Even in the dim, flickering light and being drenched and plastered against her face, her fiery hair still seemed to shine.

Ron sat there like that for what felt like ages, just watching her. Her lithe frame was just as soaked as her hair. She was hunched over, not moving, but the blonde teen could feel the gentle rise and fall of her sides as she breathed against his back. Her pirate outfit was torn in several places where sword blades had came too close for comfort; though, she had only a couple minor scrapes from the sharpened blades.

As he sat there, watching the steady breathing of his life long friend and listening to the sounds of the storm outside, Ron let the memories of how they had ended up in such a tight sitch pick at the edges of his mind.

--

Blood red clouds swirled overhead, casting claws of white lightening across the stormy skies. The ocean tossed a pair of ships around like play-things. Turmoil raged on the more deteriorated of the two vessels. The fighting abruptly halted at the sight of the ship’s blue skinned captain aiming his silver-glowing sword directly at a cornered Kim Possible.

She stared wide eyed at her arch foe as he pointed the blade at her. Another flash of lightening outlined their forms.

“Arr! Fair thee well, Kim Possible!”

Everyone on the ship, even Shego, spun to watch, shocked at what seemed to be the young teen heroine’s end.

“Kim!” Ron cried desperately, as if that alone could save her.

A red and pink blur suddenly dove from the raging sky and scooped Captain Black Eye’s sword out of his hands right as he was about to strike.

“What!? Me loyal sidekick!” the blue pirate yelled in frustrated confusion. Remmie, accompanied by Rufus, flew the blade up to the crow’s nest where it was safe from the captain’s grasp.

Captain Barkin stared up at his pet, grinning. “Nice one, Remmie! I knew ye weren’t a traitor!”

“Remmie’s a parrot, Rwak! Not a pirate, Rwak!” the colorful bird squawked. He began to take off, but the sword slipped from his talons. Straight into Shego’s waiting hands.

Captain Drakken, recovered from his initial shocked surprise, walked up to her. “Good! Shego! Give me the sword!”

The green skinned villainess looked over her shoulder at her ‘captain’. “After throwing me in the stockade?” she growled. “Yeah, that’d be a nay. I’m captain now!”

Shego held the glowing sword high above her head and waved it. Instantly, three more shadowy pirate goons materialized. From the stern, Kim attempted to steer the ship sharply enough to cause the pirates to loose their footing. Drakken toppled over, but Shego caught herself. The villainess shot an energy beam from the sword directly at the redhead. Kim dove to the side, barely managing to avoid being crisped.

“Throw that scallywag in the brig!” now Captain, Shego ordered, pointing at a quivering Drakken. The once pirate captain gave a terrified shriek as two burly seamen lifted him roughly and dragged him below deck.

“We be out numbered!” Captain Barkin shouted above the roar of thunder and crashing waves.

“We can beat them!” Monique called bravely from where she was battling at rather scrawny pirate.

Bonnie wobbled across the deck, looking like she was going to be sick. “No we can’t!”

Kim flipped off of the deck to join her teacher’s father in the brawl. “Though I can’t believe I’m saying this, Bonnie’s right. We need reinforcements!”

“Retreat!” Captain Barkin bellowed.

Bonnie was the first to begin climbing across the rope that connected the two ships, closely followed by Captain Barkin. Monique was next, but hesitated half way across when the vessel was rocked wildly by a rouge wave. Kim and Ron were knocked to their feet and quickly surrounded by Shego and her goons. The young fashion designer began to move towards her trapped friends.

“No! Monique, go!” Kim yelled frantically at her friend.

“Kim, I’m not going to leave you behind!” Monique retorted stubbornly.

The boat lurched again. Kim felt something bump against her foot. It was her sword. The teen saw an opening, and in one nimble move, grabbed and threw the blade at the rope connecting the ships. Her throw hit home, snapping the cord and cutting Monique off from the pirates’ ship.

She let out a startled scream, but was pulled safely aboard the other vessel.

Kim and Ron, now alone, looked up at Captain Shego and the fierce blade being pointed at their throats.

“H-hey Shego,” Ron stammered. “N-nice weather today, huh?”

The green skinned henchwoman grinned down at her foes maliciously. “That’s Captain Shego to you.”

The ear-splitting bang of a cannon being fired delayed Shego from vaporizing the two teens. The last cannonball Captain Barkin’s ship had plowed into the side of the pirate ship’s tallest mast. Woodchips splintered off of the decimated mast and showered over the crew.

Shego growled in frustration. “Now where were we, Princess?” She aimed the sword back at Kim, but was cut off yet again but the sound of groaning, cracking wood.

Unable to support its own weight, the damaged mast abruptly snapped and began to crash into the ship, and its inhabitants. Captain Shego gave a startled cry and scrambled backwards to avoid being crushed. Kim and Ron did the same, but weren’t fast enough to dodge one of the mast’s supporting beams.

The last thing Ron remembered was seeing the beam heading straight for him, splitting pain as it plowed into his skull, then darkness.

--

A quiet moan broke Ron’s reminiscing. He twisted around to look at Kim and saw her stir.

“KP! You’re okay!”

The auburn-haired teen gave another, smaller groan as she fully regained consciousness. “Ron? Where are we? And why is it so wet?”

“We’re on Drakken’s, er, Shego’s ship,” Ron told her, correcting his mistake mid-sentence.

Kim was instantly alert. She tried to stand but was held back by the ropes.

“Sorry, Kim,” the blonde apologized.

His best friend settled herself against him again. “Compared to being tied to a pole, I rather like this arrangement,” she murmured back to him. Ron caught a small grin spread across her lips and found himself blushing a little. Kim began to root back and forth until her hand found his. She wrapped her fingers with his, and then leaned against him. The blonde turned his face so their cheeks brushed against each others’.

“What now?” Ron asked into the stretching silence.

At first, Kim didn’t reply right away. After a long pause, she let out a gusty sigh. “As much as I hate to say it,” the young heroine replied solemnly, “we wait. It would be ferociously insane to try to escape in this weather.” As if on cue, another wave crashed into the ship, sending the water around the two teens to one end of the brig until it evened out again.

“We might be here a while,” Ron observed.

“Hmm,” was Kim’s only response.

The pair didn’t have to wait long after all. Ron was awakened by Kim’s elbow digging into his side. “Wha’z up KP?” he mumbled sleepily, realizing he’d dozed off.

“We have company,” was his girlfriend’s terse response. Ron’s eyes shot open to see a familiar green and black outfit.

“Nice to see you awake buffoon. Wouldn’t want you to miss out on the big event.”

Confused, the blonde looked over at Kim. His best friend was too busy glaring daggers at her arch foe to notice Ron’s look. He guessed she’d already been filled in on ‘the big event’.

Shego was still holding the glowing sword, and had added a large captain’s hat to her attire. She unsheathed the magical blade and pointed it directly at the two teens. “Get up.”

Kim and Ron complied. The freckle-faced blonde almost cried out as his cramped muscles felt like they were being stabbed with a hot knife. He shot a glance in Kim’s direction and saw her eyes were glassed over in pain as well, though she gave no other sign of her discomfort.

How long had they been sitting like that? Ron wondered silently.

Awkwardly, the two teens shuffled out of the brig. Captain Shego followed close behind with her very sharp sword pointing at their backs.

“Yarg! Shego! Surely you will allow me to see Kim Possible’s demise?” Drakken called from his cell, still thinking he was a pirate.

The green villainess gave an irritated sigh, “Very well, matey.” She motion to a couple of her crew to let her former boss free, though she made sure they didn’t let go of him.

Once above deck, Ron saw that although the sky was still stormy, it was pitch black. So we were down there for a long time, he thought.

Shego directed them to the edge of the ship, where the pair saw a strip of wood jutting out over the raging black waters. “You’re making us walk the plank?” Ron asked his captor, incredulous.

“Aye,” Shego replied, grinning evilly. “I suppose ye can say I’m getting into thee pirate spirit.” The two teen heroes walked helplessly onto the plank. The rest of the pirate crew was grinning or cheering spitefully. “Time to walk the plank.”

Ron looked down at the swirling water below. “You know, this would be so cool if we weren’t about to die,” the blonde commented. Kim looked back at him. Their eyes locked for a split second, but that was all she needed to get her silent message across.

The blonde glanced down at her hand and saw she had grabbed a rope unnoticed. Tracing its path with his eyes, he saw where it connected to the ship’s hull. It was within striking range.

“Any last words, Princess?” Shego asked the teen viciously.

“Actually, Shego, two,” Kim replied coolly. “Ron! Now!”

The blonde kicked the peg keeping the rope deck-bound and was instantly yanked upwards as it slid loose. Before he knew it, he and Kim were balancing precariously on the remaining mast.

“Don’t just stand there!” Shego roared from below the two teens on deck. “Get them!”

Instantly, pirates had trapped Kim and Ron.

“Um, now would be a really good time for phase two of your plan,” Ron whimpered over to his best friend girlfriend as two burly pirates closed in on them with weapons bared. “Kim? Any time now… Kim?!”

Just as the nearest goon took a swing at them, Kim screamed, “duck!”

Ron did as he was told. The pirate’s sword sliced through the teens’ bonds instead of their flesh. Freed, Kim immediately launched herself at the pirate who had just taken a swing at them and dispensed him easily.

“Ron! Behind you!” she warned him while using her newly acquired sword to block another attacker’s advance.

The blonde gave a startled cry and ducked just in time. The goon’s blade swept past him and into the mast. The pirate gave his sword a tug to try and dislodge it with no luck. He looked up at Ron, only to see a foot. The pirate was flung off of the mast from the blonde’s well placed kick. “Ah booyah!”

A breeze along his legs caused the blonde to look down. His pants were around his ankles. “Aww man!”

He gave the embedded blade a few powerful tugs after he repaired his pants issue, and it finally tore loose. Ron’s hand flew back from the momentum and felt his elbow make contact with something soft. There was a disgruntled moan from behind him. Ron spun around just in time to see the pirate he had just inadvertently socked in the nose fall off the mast.

More pirates began to swarm up the ladder ropes. Ron back up and bumped into someone. He twisted around and blocked his attacker’s sword with his own. There was a metallic clang as metal hit metal. Ron’s eyes flew open when he saw that the sword’s wielder was Kim. She looked equally surprised.

They hastily broke apart and turned their focus on the advancing pirates. Kim sliced the rope ladder with her blade, cutting them off from their attackers. A group of pirates began to climb up the mast itself anyway.

Kim grabbed a dangling rope, then snaked her arm around Ron. The pair jumped off of the mast and landed heavily on the slippery deck. It was pouring rain by now.

The two teens fought side by side for what felt like ages. The ringing sounds of swords clashing filled the night air, only occasionally drowned out by the louder crashing of thunder or monster waves slamming against the ship’s hull. And even though they managed to disarm a couple pirates, there always seemed to be another one to take his place. Many times a blade came much, much too close for Ron’s liking.

The young blonde was forced to stop backing up when he felt something against his back. Risking a quick glance over his shoulder, he realized with a sickening feeling he and Kim had been cornered against the rail.

Ron suddenly felt Kim slip her hand into his. He deflected a jab to his ribs just barely before stealing a glance at her. The look on Kim’s face told Ron all he needed to know about how this battle was going to end.

“Any ideas?” Ron shouted desperately over the roar of the fight and the raging storm.

He and Kim traded places and deflected a few more blows before she answered.

“One,” she said dismally.

The blonde ducked under a sweeping attack. Both teens returned to their original fighting positions.

“And that would be?”

They blocked the same sword at the same time. Kim kicked its owner square in the chest, sending him flying back into the mass of opponents. She barely managed to avoid getting the same leg she’d used to kick with sliced open as another blade passed where her leg had been not even a heartbeat before.

Kim stared at him. “We jump.”

Ron saw the furious black water slamming into the vessel out of the corner of his eye and gulped. “Any other ideas? You know, like one that won’t kill us!”

A sword sliced through Ron’s shirt and dug into the wooden railing behind him. Kim gave a muffed cry, thinking it had stabbed more than just fabric. She gave a relieved sigh once Ron jerked to the side and tore free, leavening a clump of his shirt behind. “Okay, I like your plan now,” he replied.

Kim nodded and, after blocking one last blow, flung her sword into the air. Her blade cut through the net that was holding a group of barrels. The large casks crashed to the deck and temporarily buried the pirates. One barrel managed to slam into the ship’s steering wheel, rendering it to shambles.

The ship gave a sickening lurch as it twisted out of control. There was a sharp scrapping noise as the ship ran over something.

“We’ve hit the rocks! We’re going down!” an unseen voice bellowed.

Ron tossed his sword aside and jumped up onto the railing with Kim. They stared at each other for a moment in which time seemed to slow for Ron. Then the teen heroine gave a sad nod and the pair leapt off the edge into the dark, cold waters below.

Cold, dark, and wet. That was what Ron’s entire world consisted of. Or at least, it was all that mattered as he struggled to stay above the raging ocean.

I'm just a normal boy
That sank when I fell overboard
My ship would leave the country
But I'd rather swim ashore

Almost instantly he lost sight of his best friend. The blonde caught a glimpse of the cursed chest slipping off of the side of the vessel before sinking under the water.

He broke the surface, sputtering. There was movement which, as the water cleared from his eyes, a blurred figure resolved into Shego and Drakken escaping on some sort of water craft. Another wave plowed over him before he could look for Kim.

The rouge wave twisted and spun him like a bath toy even as it pushed him further away from the surface. Finally, Ron gained some bearings, and kicked back up. He gulped at the air as his face broke through the waves, but swallowed a mouthful of bitter salt water as well.

Without a life vest I'd be stuck again
Wish I was much more masculine
Maybe then I could learn to swim
Like 'fourteen miles away'

With a jolt of numbed surprise, the young hero realized how far he was from the ship already. The ship itself was nearly completely submerged beneath the crashing waves.

“Kim!” Ron yelled into the stormy night, but his cry was cut short as another wave crashed over him. He forced himself back up. His strength was flagging already. Once again above the water, the blonde searched frantically for his girlfriend. There! A flash of red!

The lithe cheerleader spotted Ron at the same moment. She opened her mouth, but her words were torn from her by the howling wind. Kim began to swim towards the blonde with steady, powerful strokes, diving under a wave just before it hit her. She reappeared a heartbeat later. She makes it look so easy, Ron thought drearily. But the wide-eyed look on her face betrayed her fear.

They had almost reached each other when a massive wave roared over them. Even after it passed Ron hung limp for a moment, suspended in the cool water. It was so much nicer down here… But the teen’s lungs reminded him how badly he needed air.

Now floating up and down
I spin, colliding into sound
Like whales beneath me diving down
I'm sinking to the bottom of my
Everything that freaks me out
The lighthouse beam has just run out
I'm cold as cold as cold can be
be

Ron took a gulp of air into his burning lungs, and tried to clear his salt stung eyes. Where was Kim? Where was the ship? As far as he could see there was nothing but water. Water every where. Below him, around him, towering over him, and raining down on him from the pitch black sky. Ron couldn’t even tell which way he had last seen the auburn haired heroine.

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion... yeah
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down

He was alone. Completely and utterly alone. Ron didn’t dare try to swim in one direction. For all he knew, he would end up swimming away from where he needed to go. Not that the raging sea would make swimming a possibility; it was hard enough to simply remain afloat. Each new wall of black water sapped a little more energy from his flailing limbs. The blonde teen knew he couldn’t keep this up. Being shoved deep below the angry ocean, then fighting back to the surface for a quick, desperate gasp of air mixed with water, and then being forced right back down.

Where is the coastguard
I keep looking each direction
For a spotlight, give me something
I need something for protection

Ron scanned the rough waters for anything that was floating to hang onto. He saw a piece of wood, ripped from the sinking pirate’s ship, and began making for it. As he reached a shivering hand towards it, it was sucked under. It didn’t float back up. Ron gave a frustrated cry that was answered by a blast of thunder.

Maybe flotsam junk will do just fine
the jetsam sunk, I'm left behind
I'm treading for my life believe me
(How can I keep up this breathing)

It felt like he’d been treading for years. Ron’s already battle weary limbs screamed in protest for a break. Complying, the blonde let himself drift beneath the chill water, only to have his lungs take up a new protest. He was growing more and more exhausted with each sweep of his arms and with every kick of his legs.

He was tired. And cold.

Never could the young hero remember being so utterly cold. The spring time air had been pleasant on land, but the ocean water had yet to warm up from winter, and the storm made even the air chill. His mind felt numb, along with the rest of him. He needed a break. Just a quick one. Then he’d start to swim again. He had to. He had to find Kim.

Thinking of her made his heart twist painfully. Was she still out there, treading for her life just like him? Or had she managed to find help? Or was she already-

No, Ron rebuked himself wearily. He couldn’t think like that. His life long friend was out there, somewhere, and he would find her. But how? The blonde could barely stay adrift himself.

“Kim!!!” he cried into cruel storm, hoping that by some miracle she’d hear him. Only the wind answered.

Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground

A wave washed over him, and he sank, deeper and deeper, ignoring his blazing lungs. Kim…

I'm reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion... yeah
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

Warmth spread through weary limbs. Ron slowly blinked opened his salt burned eyes and found himself lying in a Bueno Nacho booth, with sunlight spilling in through a nearby window. It was all a dream? The blonde thought exhaustedly.

“Nay, Stoppable. Tis not a dream.”

Now waking to the sun
I calculate what I had done

“Ahh!” The teen jumped up and saw Captain Barking sitting across the table. The burly man raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “Wait,” Ron asked hesitantly, a foreboding thought creeping into his mind, “am I…dead?”

Like jumping from the bow (yeah)
Just to prove that I knew how (yeah)

“Nay again. You not be dead yet.”

It's midnight's late reminder of
The loss of her, the one I love

The freckle-faced teen gave a gusty sigh of relief. “Thank goodness! For a minute there- wait a conflabbin’ second. ‘Not dead yet?’”

“Aye. Not dead yet.”

My will to quickly end it all
Set front row in my need to fall

“So are you dead?”

Captain Barkin sighed. “Nay. I be simply a figment of your overactive imagination.”

He motioned for Ron to look out side the window. The peaceful, warm sunlight had been replaced by dark, churning water. In the middle of the scene Ron saw a limp figure sinking lower and lower, eyes closed and blonde hair swirling all over the place.

Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
into the ocean...end it all

“Th-that’s m-me,” Ron stammered.

“Aye that tis be you lad. And now ye must choose.”

“Choose?”

“If ye want to keep fighting or if ye want to give up and stay here.”

The dreary scene outside had been replaced with soft, golden rays of light once again. Ron opened his mouth to respond, confident in his choice, until a heavy chill overcame him. His arm and legs began to burn, along with his lungs; he couldn’t breathe.

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion (yeah)

“Fighting will be no easy feat,” the large captain warned, “but has thee greatest rewards.”

An image of a limp Kim drifting through the ocean flooded over Ron’s senses.

Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

No matter how hard it was, he couldn’t give up. He had to keep going, if only to save her. All at once Barkin and the warm, comfortable Bueno Nacho booth were both gone. In their place the cold ocean gripped Ron once again. But he ignored it and pushed for the surface. Just when the young blonde was sure his lungs would burst, he broke through into sweet, sweet air.

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
In to space
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

Ron’s limbs ached, but the storm above had calmed tremendously; a stiff wind still unsettled the water, but no longer were the waves trying to shove the blonde under. A few stars were even visible through gaps in the retreating storm clouds, though a steady drizzle continued to fall.

Treading a few seconds to get his bearing, the young hero took a deep breath and began swimming. Ron didn’t know why he had chosen the way he had picked, but somehow it felt right. A cloud drifted along, revealing a part of the moon. Its silvery light reflected off of the ocean, casting thousands of glittering diamonds over the black water.

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
I thought of just your face

After what felt like a lifetime of stroking and kicking, though, he began to doubt his choice. What if he was going the wrong way? Ron shuddered. Kim could need him, and there he was swimming in the opposite direction. A small smudge ahead of him pushed his dark thoughts away. Even if he was going the wrong way, Ron knew he needed to rest his aching limbs; if the smudge was driftwood, or anything that floated for that matter, he’d reach it.

In the pale moonlight, Ron made out that it was smooth except fro the end which looked lumpy. His salt scraped eyes made his eyesight too blurred to be able to tell much else. Part of the broken mast? the blonde teen wondered silently.

Ron neared the segment of the mast, the languid sloshing noise of water lapping against the wood pierced by his ragged breathing. He didn’t pay attention to the abnormal lump on the far end; all he had eyes for was the part nearest him. With a deep sigh of utter relief, Ron collapsed onto the mast and let the wood kept him adrift. Finally! A break!

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

He let his arms dangle over the edge and his legs go limp in the water behind him. Sleep brought on by shear exhaustion had begun to take over Ron’s mind when a large wave rocked him a little. Compared to the massive, vicious monsters that had pummeled him earlier, this wave was nothing; but it had titled the mast just long enough for the forgotten lump at the other end to slide down and hit Ron.

Confused, Ron cracked a weary eye to see what had bumped him. Instantly both eyes had shot open as he fell backwards into the water with a scream. The blonde spat out a mouthful of salt water then looked more closely at the ‘lump,’ which had turned out to be a body. He gave a terrified cry as he recognized Kim.

Immediately returning to the mast, Ron held on with one arm and gave his best friend’s shoulder a cautious shake with the other.

“C’mon, Kim. You have to wake up. You have to,” Ron pleaded with her unmoving form. His vision blurred again, but for once it wasn’t due to the harsh salt water.

After a time that could have been seconds or decades, Kim stirred just the slightest bit. The movement had been so small it could have just been his mind playing cruel tricks on him. Ron found himself holding his breath and not daring to hope.

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

A thin groan escaped her lips, and Ron flung himself against her, hugging her tight. The lissome heroine cracked and emerald eye.

“Ron?” Her hoarse whisper could barely be heard above the breeze.

“Yeah KP?” Happiness swelled in Ron’s chest, threatening to pop him like a balloon. When he felt her shivering from the cold, his elation died down.

“You…made it? You’re…alive?”

“I did and I am, thanks to you,” Ron told her, settling down with one arm hanging over the mast and the other draped protectively over her back. Not even a typhoon could separate him from her now.

Kim was silent for so long Ron thought she had drifted off to sleep.

“I thought…,” she spoke suddenly, with a hint of more strength, “I though I had lost you.” The auburn haired teen’s voice shook.

“I thought I’d lost you, too,” Ron admitted. Now that he’d found Kim, alive, and no longer had to keep moving continuously, the blonde felt sleep overcoming him. “But we made it through,” (he fought to stifle a stubborn yawn), “the worst of this, and we’ll finish this, together.”

A faint smile spread across Kim’s lips. She moved closer to her best friend boyfriend, and fit herself in the crook of his arm. “Together,” she whispered, fighting the need to sleep herself for just a little longer. She had stopped shaking.

Ron finally let himself drift off into the welcome black of sleep once Kim’s deep, slow breaths told him she was asleep herself.

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

A soft nudge to his shoulder woke Ron from a much too short dream. He grunted irritably and began to snooze again. The gentle nudge turn into a mild shake, which in turn became a rough one. The blonde groaned and tried to turn over, only to remember too late that he wasn’t in his bed, but on a mast. Cold water woke him as he rolled right off.

As the soaked blonde clambered back onto the impromptu life raft, a girlish giggle greeted him. Kim watched him, humor dancing in her jade eyes. She was sitting on the mast and had her legs dangling in the cool water.

“Ha, ha, let’s all laugh at the sidekick,” Ron grumbled in mock irritation. Though when he saw how much better she looked, he couldn’t help himself from grinning. True, Kim still looked exhausted and disheveled, but there was a spark in her tired eyes.

“Oh c’mere, Sidekick, and watch the sunrise with me,” Kim said laughter ringing in her voice. She pulled the blonde up next to her, nearly falling backwards into the water herself in the process.

Ron caught her and they steadied each other. He realized how close they were and flushed some. The young heroine smiled up at her boyfriend and gave him a quick kiss, adding to his blush.

Kim, content with herself for making the ‘unembarrassable Ron’ fidget, leaned against him. In front of them, the sun had just risen above the horizon. It turned the sky a warm pinkish-yellow and the remaining clouds a soft purple. Though the water remained crisp and cool to the touch, a warm breeze had begun to blow. Seagulls began to squawk complaints at them from the air.

Unexpectedly, Kim stiffened next to him. Alarmed, Ron looked around for any sign of danger. The young heroine chuckled next to him.

“Amp down Ron. We’re not in any danger.”

When he gave her a questioning glance she pointed excitedly to a small dot on the horizon. Ron squinted but couldn’t tell what it was.

“Okay-y-y. A dot.”

“Ron,” his girlfriend chided him gently, “that’s not just a dot. That’s a ship!”

He squinted again. “Are you sure, KP? I mean, from here it kinda looks like a dead whale or something…”

The redhead gave him a good-natured punch to the shoulder. “I’m sure, Ron.”

And she was right. As the ship, no ships, neared both teens began fidgeting excitedly. Ron held a restraining hand on Kim’s arm when she made to jump off and swim to the ships.

“Ron-” she began heatedly.

The blonde held fast. “Sorry, Kim, but I don’t think you should over work yourself after what you were just through.”

“I’m perfectly alert and-” her retort was cut off by a colossal yawn. “Oh fine I’ll wait here.”

When the ships were close enough Ron could see Monique’s relieved face, he didn’t even try to stop Kim from diving off of the broken mast and swimming towards the ships. Ron found that he couldn’t help himself, and soon followed in suit. His sore muscles complained but he ignored them.

By the time he reached the lifesaver that had been tossed overboard for him, Kim had already been pulled aboard and was watching his every move. Ron grabbed the floating item and allowed himself to be hauled up.

“I tried to get reinforcements to ye faster Miss Possible,” Ron heard Captain Barkin apologizing to the auburn haired teen, “but thee storm kept me men at bay.”

“It’s okay Captain Barkin. Defeating the pirates was no big,” Kim replied with her usual, modest response. The young heroine had been given a blanket and was wrapped up in it. Monique handed Ron one as well, and he accepted it gratefully. Kim glanced over at him dotingly. “I’m just glad Ron was there to help.”

The blonde returned his girlfriend’s warm smile. He knew that Kim would probably never tell anyone just how serious the night had really been for them. She had a tendency to do that with many of their missions.

A red flash above him caught Ron’s attention. Remmie alighted on Captain Barkin’s shoulder. A pink shape raced off of the bird’s back and flew into Ron’s arms.

“Rufus! Buddy!”

The small naked mole rat chattered at the blonde in admonishment for leaving him behind before scrambling into his customary pocket.

“Thanks Captain B for the whole pep talk back at Bueno Nacho,” the blonde whispered to the burly captain so that Kim wouldn’t over hear him.

“What are ye babbling about Stoppable?”

When his girlfriend hid a snicker behind her hand, Ron looked over from his conversation, confused. Monique joined her friend; though she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“What? What’d I do?”

Kim continued giggling as she pointed at Ron’s lower half.

Already knowing what he’d find, Ron groaned as he looked down at his boxers. Peering over his shoulder, the blonde saw his pants, bobbing up and down in the ocean below. Shrugging Ron wrapped the blanket around his waist and turned his back on his lost pants. For all he cared, the ocean could have those pants; he had enough saltwater in his stomach to last him a life time.

"What?" Monique jeered good-naturedly, "Don't feel like taking a quick dip?"

Ron opened his mouth to retort, but clamped it shut instantly. The steady rocking of the ship tossed his water filled stomach; all of that swallowed salt water suddenly threatened to leave in a hurry.

The blonde turned a bizarre shade of green and raced for the side of the rail.

Monique began to crack up again. "Hey girl, looks like your BF is a bit green around the gills." She moved to nudge Kim in the side, only to make contact with empty air. "Kim?" The dark haired teen turned and saw her friend leaning over the rail, much like Ron.

She shook her head. "They really are two peas in a pod. Two very seasick peas..."

The End