Disclaimer: The Powerpuff Girls are sadly not owned by me.

-Prologue-

"There is perhaps no more rewarding romance heroine than she who is not expected to find love. The archetype comes in many disguises - the wallflower, the spinster, the governess, the single mom - but always with one sad claim: Love is not in her cards." - Sarah Maclean

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The clock had just struck noon when a knock came from the front door.

Alice Crawford rose sedately, straightened her voluminous plum-colored skirt, and moved towards the ornate oak door with the same deliberation that she showed in all her work.

The visitor was a young woman. Not attractive – not exactly, Mrs. Crawford thought, observing her casually as she led her to the seat in front of her study's desk. Wispy golden curls escaped from her single braid; she was small and slight, and her huge clear blue eyes with long, dark lashes would have rendered her certainly pretty, if not for her spaced out look and overall childlike naivety. She wasn't attractive, definitely not – but there was something about her that the middle-aged woman liked immediately.

"I hope you could find the place with no trouble?" Alice Crawford asked solicitously.

"Oh, yes," the woman replied in a pleasant, clear voice. "Your directions were perfect."

"Thank you, dear. I am Mrs. Crawford. Tea?" Without waiting for an answer – she knew these modern women, they would never admit that they were thirsty – she pushed forward a comfortable-looking mug full of sweet-smelling tea. "I've already made it. You can't refuse."

"Thank you." She sat and sipped her drink. Mrs. Crawford thought approvingly that they weren't delicate, tiny sips either – they were wholesome swallows. This one wasn't a delicate featherhead – she would be able to control the children.

"You are Bubbles Utonium?"

"Yes, ma'am." She spoke with confidence.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-one."

"You wrote that you had experience with young children?"

"Yes, ma'am. I had about twelve siblings to look after and I took a job as a part-time governess for a seven-year-old boy while I was completing my studies."

"And what do you teach?"

"History, English, French, and Maths," Bubbles Utonium replied promptly. "I also know quite a bit about botany-"

"Yes, well that's quite enough for six-year-olds to learn," Alice Crawford interrupted quickly. "You like children?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am. I get along with them very well. And they don't walk all over me, if I may say so."

"I have no doubt." Mrs. Crawford had already decided, in her mind, that she would hire this creature. The other two applicants were not at all what she was looking for; one was nearly seventy and much too heavy to go running after four young and active children, and the other was young and much too modern and efficient for her tastes. This was the one – but it wouldn't do for her to be unprofessional.

"Do you have a situation now?"

Bubbles Utonium's lively face fell slightly. "No," she replied ruefully. "The boy I was tutoring moved to Switzerland, for some reason. And – I haven't been able to find a job for a while now. I just completed my studies – I studied literature and the arts. I – need a job, ma'am. My father died a year ago and I had to put my personal life on hold to support my family, so I'm – well, to put it plainly, flat broke." She spoke very frankly and Alice Crawford was a compassionate woman who had already noticed the gray and very worn suit that had been carefully mended many times.

"I see. My dear, I ought not to be confiding this to you, but quite frankly, you might be the answer to everything. The other applicants for this job were unsatisfactory, to say the least."

The young woman's face suddenly flushed with excitement. "Do you – will I – am I it?" she breathed incoherently.

"As far as I am concerned, yes. Of course, I shall have to consult my employer." Suddenly, she was struck with an idea – a very roguish idea – but it could possibly work–

Feeling suddenly much younger and mischievous, Alice Crawford said demurely, "He is quite a busy man, that Mr. Harrington."

"Yes?" There was friendly curiosity in Bubbles' eyes.

"Only twenty-six, I believe," she mentioned offhandedly. "You know, my dear, I was the nanny, but my sister passed away and left me a monstrous estate that I am compelled to take over. I love the children, but there's no way I can wiggle out of this one."

"What are they like?"

"The children? Oh, sweet. You'll get along with them, all right. The six-year-old twins are whom you'll tutor – they are Buttercup and Blossom. Then Robin is almost four – and then there is two-year-old Michael. You do know how to take care of babies, right?"

"Oh, yes. I'm very experienced for someone who's never had any."

"BC – as we call Buttercup- is usually a handful, but she's always very penitent. Blossom is an angel. Robin is too young to tell, but she's active enough – you'll have your hands full keeping her from all the places she shouldn't be. Mikey is what we call the baby, bless his heart, and he's also an angel."

"They sound delightful."

"Yes. Their mother is dead, you know."

Bubbles drew in her breath and looked genuinely sympathetic. "Oh, that's awful," she cried.

"Two years ago, from birthing complications. Evangeline was a nice little creature – astoundingly beautiful. You'll find that Robin takes after her. The others don't, a bit, but they're all very good-looking too – Boomer Harrington is, you know."

"I see," Bubbles said, glancing at Mrs Crawford with laughter in her eyes.

"I don't see why you shouldn't take the job, anyway," Alice Crawford said contemplatively. "I will give you some money to buy yourself a governess uniform – oh yes," she said severely in response to Bubbles' protest, "You must have a uniform. Four new outfits should do the trick. Mr. Harrington insists on uniformity." In truth, she was just saying that as a tactful way of giving Miss Utonium enough money to buy some much-needed clothes, if she was to be the judge of anything. "If I asked you to come up to the house Wednesday – that is the day after tomorrow – after luncheon – say two o'clock – you might meet Mr. Harrington. Is that all right?"

"That's wonderful. Thank you ever so much, Mrs. Crawford. I'll be there. Oh, thank you!"

She rose, shook the benevolent woman's hand, and left with a jubilant expression. Alice Crawford was equally pleased, for her beloved children would be under good care with Bubbles Utonium and hopefully her splendidly devilish idea would bring Mr. Harrington his much needed happiness.

~End Of Chapter~

The stage is set…the actors are ready!

Tell me, what did you think?

R&R and favorite and follow :) in short, don't be a stranger!

Peace,

~Shiloh~