Kigo

1) Home is where the Heart is by Lhyaran

Chapter 1: A First Meeting

~o0o~

Firstly I'd like to say I'm not a writer, anything that remotely resembles a story is all thanks to my beta readers, especially Rae D. Magdon. I've read so many KiGo fanfictions that I'm no longer sure whether the inspiration comes from me or from what I've read. But, I do know Chloé C. and her webcomic 'Anything's Possible' started me on this journey, and that SHADO Commander's 'At the Centerfold of the Storm' has inspired me and shown me how complex stories can become. So, to all those writers out there who have written blazing words of delight across my minds eyes, I thank you, and enjoy.

Winner of 10th Annual Kim Possible Fannie Awards for:
-Best Novel-Sized Story
-Best Story Overall

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Kim Possible or any characters associated with the show.

~o0o~

Home.

It was such a simple word, but it meant so much more to one Kim Possible, teen hero and world's savior.

She had spent the last week deep in the Amazon Rainforest tracking down a would-be villain; days spent traipsing through the stifling heat and mosquito-infested jungle. By the time she had found the villain's lair, she was covered in mud, her hair a tangled mess, and every bit of exposed skin scratched or bitten. She had been so unbelievably frustrated that she had lost it, ranting at the poor man so much he had given up without a fight.

It never used to be like this. Her effervescent personality never got down, and no matter what the sitch, she was always upbeat. It had taken an alien invasion by the Lowardians and a year since they had invaded to turn her life upside down, and not for the better.

She had been instrumental in their defeat, and in the euphoric celebrations afterwards she could never have pictured the repercussions. With the world wide devastation—including her family home—all of her long-time friends had moved away, leaving her almost completely alone. Then they came. The media, with their constant, intense and almost rabid attention to everything Kim Possible, taking away her privacy and freedom. And when it could not get any worse, there was the breakup with Ron.

It was a huge burden for your basic average girl who had only just turned nineteen, and it was so much, almost too much.

Now she was flying home in first class thanks to Wade. A special gift just for her, she had decided, because he could see how overwhelmed she was becoming. For now, she was content with the hum of the plane's engines instead of the cacophony of the rainforest and the gloriously comfy seat instead of a sleeping bag on the ground. Sitting there, she relaxed and cleared her mind of all her troubles, focusing on home and the comforts of her bed, the loving arms of her parents, and even her twin brothers. Turning her head, piercing olive green eyes stared out the window at the clear blue sky, her mind now filled with family. She soon found it drifting to friends lost and gone and, inevitably, to the loneliness her life now entailed.

A catch in Kim's throat caused her to close her eyes, running her hands through her hair as memories of the breakup she had buried for the last year dredged to the surface. It was the last time she had been close to someone, other than her family, even if she had been the one to end it. But it had been for the best. She had to keep telling herself that, or she would lose it completely. The released memories flooded back to her as she opened her eyes, staring out the window. This time, she did not see the pristine blue sky, but the past... and tears of loneliness and loss welled up.

~o0o~

Kim was brought out of her thoughts as the pilot's voice came over the intercom, announcing they would be landing at Middleton Airport in thirty minutes.