Ron dropped his school bag to the floor with a sigh of relief, closing the door to his home behind him. "Man, I am so glad this day is over. Now I get to veg for a few hours before I pick Bonnie up for our date and..."

"Ronald, is that you?"

Ron looked up curiously at the sound of his mother's voice. She was home far earlier than expected. "Yeah Mom, I just got in." Ron walked deeper into the house and saw his mother coming down the stairs putting one of her earrings in. She was dressed in one of her best outfits and her makeup had been done already. "Wow Mom, you look great. Are you going out tonight?"

"We all are Honey. Go get dressed in that suit of yours."

Ron started to dash past her but paused. "Uhh... I have a date tonight. How late are we going to be?"

Ron's Dad appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a dark blue suit. "I wouldn't worry about that Ronald. After all, we are going to the Rockwallers for dinner."

Ron sighed with relief, heading back up the stairs. "Well, that's a relief. I wouldn't want to have to cancel with Bonnie because we had to have dinner with..." It was at that moment that Ron's brain kicked into gear and heard what his father was telling him. "Wait a minute... did you say... dinner... with the Rockwallers? As in... all of them?"

Ron's mother walked by, scooping up her purse off the couch. "Of course Dear. I was talking with Bonnie's mother, delightful woman by the way, and she suggested that both families get together for dinner. Her father is back from New York and both her sisters are home from college, so we thought tonight would be the perfect time for everyone to get together."

Ron looked positively stricken at the thought. Bonnie's mother had always been nice, if a little embarrassing for Bonnie, but Bonnie had always been warning him of her sisters and her father, whom he hadn't met yet. He also knew Bonnie didn't know about this, or else she would have warned him before. "Sooo... you talked with Mrs. Rockwaller this morning then?"

Gene Stoppable stepped past his son, adjusting his tie. "Oh no, your mother has been planning this with her for over a week now."

"A WEEK?" Ron grabbed the railing for support. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Gene looked over at his wife before meeting Ron's eyes. "This was our way of telling you son. Now go get changed, we're leaving in just a few minutes."

Ron staggered up the stairs to his room, dread already well underway. This was not going to be a good night.

Ron straightened his tie for the tenth time as they made their way up to the Rockwaller's front door. His concern was building with every moment. Gene had barely knocked when the door opened quickly, showing a bright and smiling Bonnie standing in the doorway, dressed in an outfit, most likely provided by her mother, that made her look all of twelve, though a twelve with a definite figure. The smile on her face did not seem to reach her eyes though.

"Mister and Missus Stoppable, how great to see you again. I'm so glad you could make it." Bonnie leaned in to give Ron's mother a hug and then did the same for his father. The pleasantries out of the way, she turned to Ron, her smile never wavering. "Hi Ron." Bonnie leaned in to hug him, her arms going over his shoulders. When she was fully pressed against him, her voice changed and dropped to a whisper. "If you knew about this and didn't tell me..."

"I found out just twenty minutes ago."

Bonnie pulled back to look at Ron's face, trying to find any hint of deception, but she knew there would be none, especially considering the panic she could feel coming off him. Satisfied, Bonnie turned back to Ron's parents, the same smile plastered on. "Why don't you all come in, we should be eating soon."

Bonnie led them into the living room, where the rest of the Rockwaller family was waiting. "Mr. And Mrs. Stoppable, this is my father John Rockwaller, and I believe you already know my mother Dawn."

The mothers hugged with bright smiles, but John Rockwaller eyed the Stoppable family critically. Dressed in an expensive suit and standing taller than both Stoppable men, he seemed to look down on them more than was physically possible. After a moment, he finally stuck out his hand, though it seemed he did it reluctantly. He nodded briefly to Gene when they shook hands, and then he turned his attention to the youngest Stoppable.

"So, you're the young man who has caught my daughter's attention."

Ron gulped deeply, moving well beyond nervous. "Uhh... yes sir."

John ran his eyes over Ron again, clearly not impressed. The tension was getting thick in the room until Dawn cut in. "Dinner should be ready now if everyone wants to sit at the table. Bonnie, would you go get your sisters?"

Bonnie dashed upstairs quickly as everyone else moved to the dining room. The Rockwaller sisters were quick to join them, though Lonnie was still talking on her cellphone when she sat down.

Dawn was quick to admonish her daughter. "Lonnie dear, put the phone down, we have company."

Lonnie glanced briefly at their guests before returning to her conversation, ignoring her mother. Dawn, trying to get things on track, quickly brought out the food.

For the first little bit, as the food was passed around, it was almost pleasant. The food smelled good, as Dawn Rockwaller had really outdone herself to make the meal special. It didn't last long though.

Gene glanced around the table briefly after getting his plate filled. "Would you mind if I said prayers?"

John looked up sharply, his distaste showing through clearly. "We're not Christian."

Gene blinked at that, a bit stunned. "Neither are we, we're Jewish."

"Oh really." John's tone was almost condescending. "My accountant Marty is Jewish, do you know him?"

Gene gritted his teeth, biting back a comment. "No, I'm afraid I don't."

John shrugged, turning his attention back to his food. "Oh well."

Eating resumed, though there was no conversation, the tenseness getting to everyone a little bit. Even Rufus stayed hidden in Ron's pocket, taking the food that Ron handed to him but doing nothing further.

It was Connie who made the next comment, as she seemed unhindered by the situation. "So... THIS was the best you could do after you dumped that football player?"

Dawn looked up sharply at her daughter. "Connie, that was uncalled for."

Connie didn't pay any attention to her mother. "Oh please. At least Brick was someone you could look at. This... boy... is obviously a loser." Bonnie closed her eyes, reaching out to take Ron's hand, knowing what was coming next. "Of course, I guess it's about time you dated within your class, since you're a loser too."

Silverware clattered to the table as Ron let his fork drop, prepared to rebuke her. Only the comfortable grasp of Bonnie's hand in his and the gentle squeeze she gave him stilled him to silence.

It was John who rebuked his daughter this time. "Connie, I won't hear any more of that. Your sister is a Rockwaller, and Rockwaller's are not losers." When he was certain that Connie was appropriately chastised, he turned his attention back to Ron. "But she does raise one point I wanted to bring up. What ARE you intentions towards my daughter?"

Ron paled quickly, his gaze locked onto the older man's. "Umm... intentions?"

John frowned deeper, and placed his fork down on the table, his hands steepling in front of him. "Yes, what are your intentions? What do you plan to do with your life?"

Ron cast a quick glance back at Bonnie, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well... I mean... we're still in high school..."

"Then what are your plans for a career? Surely you've got something planned for your life."

"Well... I hadn't really... given it much thought... yet. But... I mean..."

Bonnie jumped in quickly, seeing Ron falter. "Ron helps save the world frequently, with his partner Kim Possible. He's pretty amazing at it too."

John turned his attentions to his youngest daughter, his gaze unforgiving. "Is this the same Kim Possible who tricked you out of the cheerleader captaincy?"

Bonnie blushed when Ron turned to look at her as well. "I... might have told you that... last year."

John waited until he was sure Bonnie wouldn't jump back into the conversation, her head hung low. "So Ronald, do you have any special skills besides 'saving the world', something that you could translate into an actual career?"

Ron knew he was pretty much on his own here by this point. "Well... I can cook, really well. Oh, and I invented the Naco over at Bueno Nacho. Part nacho, part taco, all delicious. Maybe you've had one?"

"Can't say that I have."

Ron winced, racking his brain. "What I guess I mean is... maybe I could open a restaurant... or something..."

"Hmmm..." The tone of that sound sent chills down Ron's back and Bonnie squeezed his hand hard. "So what you're telling me is that you have no plan for your life whatsoever, you don't do any athletics at school, and I'm guessing your grades are pitiful. Does that about sum it up?"

"That's it!" Jean Stoppable rose to her feet, throwing her napkin onto the table. "I've had just about enough of you badmouthing MY son. Dawn, I'm sorry about ruining dinner like this, but I've had about enough."

Gene was quickly beside his wife in full agreement. "If this is how you treat all your guests sir, I doubt you have very many friends. In fact, I'd bet odds on it."

Jean jumped back in where her husband ended. "The very least you owe us is an apology, but since we doubt someone like you would ever apologize, we'll just be leaving. Come along Ronald."

Ron rose with his parents, reluctantly letting go of Bonnie's hand. Jean calmed down a little, giving Dawn a small smile. "The food was lovely by the way. And Bonnie," Jean turned to the youngest Rockwaller, "you are welcome in our home anytime."

"I don't think so." Everyone in the room turned to look at John Rockwaller, who was frowning at the Stoppable family. "You see, I had some people look into your family before this dinner, once I heard Bonnie had a new boyfriend. An actuary in a mid-level company and a minor executive from an even smaller company. No drive or ambition in the lot of you. And then there is your son, even worse than the two of you combined. Did you honestly think I would allow my daughter to be associated with your family? She is a Rockwaller, and we don't associate with losers like you." He leveled his gaze on Ron, his eyes cold. "If you ever see my daughter again, I'll make your life hell. Is that understood?"

Bonnie was on her feet now as well, her eyes wide. "You can't do that."

John's eyes shot over to Bonnie and the young woman cringed. "And if you see him behind my back, I'll have you shipped off to a private school. Now, am I understood?"

Bonnie's hands clenched into fists, her eyes tearing up. "I HATE YOU!" With that final proclamation, Bonnie stormed up to her room, her sisters snickering behind her

John turned to look at the Stoppables with a satisfied grin on his face. "Now then, I think it's time for you to leave my house."

The Stoppables left quietly, stunned beyond belief at the way John had treated both them and his own daughter. It didn't really hit Ron until they were half way home what had been said. By the time they had arrived home, Ron was crying freely.

Author's Notes – Next... Ron and Bonnie react to the events from dinner, and a surprise changes everything