A five year old kicked a rock by his home as he sighed deeply. He had been thinking about something important for a few days now & he couldn't put it off any longer.

The child went up the steps to his house & let himself inside. He brushed his black bangs out of his face as he surveyed the area. He saw a child with blue eyes & blonde hair on the sofa, watching television contentedly. Turning, he saw another boy with red hair & even redder eyes messing with a weapon.

The child with raven hair & green eyes the shade of jade sighed again before clearing his throat loudly to gain the other children's attention. Both turned to him annoyed at being disturbed from their chosen pastime.

"What?!" Both snapped.

"I like Buttercup."

The blonde, Boomer, rejoiced. "You do?! I like Bubbles! She's so sweet & kind &-!"

"Shut up, idiot!" The redhead, Brick, uttered darkly. "He means he likes her fighting style. Right? None of us like those Puffs as anything else! Got it?!"

Boomer bowed his head with a pout. "Got it."

The dark-haired youth, Butch, frowned. "Forget that! I like like her!"

Brick's mouth fell open. "Did you hit your head, you sissy?!"

Butch growled. "You're the sissy! I know you like Blossom!"

Brick's cheeks matched his eyes. "I do not! She's a stinking girl!"

"Every time she answers a question in class, you get goo-goo eyes!" Butch accused (accurately).

Boomer laughed. "& you beat up those two stupid twins who took her book & got it dirty!"

"I was just gonna read it next!" Brick swore.

"Whatever." Butch rolled his eyes. "I like Buttercup & I want her to be my wife."

"You can't get married, doofus! You're five!"

"I'll marry her when I can!" Butch shot back.

"Why would she want you? You're a fruitcake." Brick rolled his eyes heavily.

Butch gritted his teeth. "Like Red wants some nerd with a stick shoved up his-!"

"Hey! Stop that in which you are doing & cease immediately!" A deep voice growled from the door. It was revealed to be a mutated monkey in clothing. Mojo JoJo to be exact.

"Butch likes Buttercup!" Boomer told instantly.

Butch flipped him off. "Snitch!"

"She is your sworn enemy the one you must destroy & not associate with because she is good & you are evil & never the two should meet!" Mojo ranted.

"Aww! Pipe down! I'm going to marry her one day!" Butch waved a hand.

"& what if she refuses?"

Butch hadn't thought of that. "I'll make her want me. I can change. Do that goody-goody junk. At least until she stops naggin me & I can go back to normal."

Mojo started chuckling until it turned into full out laughter. Brick started snickering as well.

Butch scowled. "I'll show you!"

"What if some other boy takes her first?" Boomer asked.

Butch nearly died. "I'll kill him!"

Mojo & Brick were holding their stomachs.

"I'll kill any person who tries to take my Buttercup away!"

o(^+^)o

Butch waited until recess to tell Buttercup of their new status. He flew out of the classroom preparing himself for his grand speech when he saw his beloved speaking to another.

His eyes glowed dangerously as he tried to keep his temper in check. He failed… He flew over quickly & pushed the other boy away. "What are you doing?!"

Buttercup looked at him like he was stupid. "I was talking. You can't go around pushing-"

"You can't talk to him anymore!"

"Have you lost your marbles?!" Buttercup fisted her hands.

"No. We're going to be married so you can't talk to other boys." Butch folded his arms across his little chest.

Buttercup's ire died down as she was struck with confusion. "What?"

"We're going to be married. I even got you this." Butch dug in his pocket for the piece of jewelry he'd stolen for her.

Buttercup was stunned into silence as he held the ring up to show her. It was silver & black with an emerald chip between an intricate design.

She didn't move for a long time so he grew impatient & grabbed her hand to stick it on a finger. He didn't know which one to put it on so he chose the middle finger since it was his favorite. "There."

Buttercup looked between their clutching hands & his face in pure confusion until she pushed him away. "What is the matter with you?!"

"You don't like it?" Butch thought she would because the gem was green, like their favorite color.

Buttercup blushed. "You can't get me this! We're enemies! We can't get married! I don't want to get married! Especially to you!"

Butch took both her hands. "It's okay. I can change. I'll be a goody two shoes like you."

Buttercup was flustered as she tried to tug her hands away. "I- I- stop it!"

"Brick says we can't get married right now but we will as soon as we can." Butch blathered on as their class watched on in terrified fascination.

"I don't like you!" Every word was punctuated with a tug.

"Yes, you do. How can you not?" Butch grinned. "We'll be happy."

Buttercup tugged harder. "You're a lunatic!"

"But I have to tell you something." His voice dropped so low, no one without super hearing could hear him. "If you let another boy near you, I will kill him."

Buttercup stared on as his left eye began twitching. "Let me go."

Butch let her hands go. "I love you."

She shuddered before flying off to her sisters.

Off to one side, Brick was laughing with Boomer. "I got the best idea, Boom!"

o(^+^)o

"Hey, Elmer." Brick hit the shy boy on his back lightly, startling him. "How's it going?"

Elmer trembled. "Fine, Brick. How are you?"

Brick grinned evilly. "I'm good. But Buttercup wants to know if she can have your cookie at snack time."

Elmer was relieved it wasn't something more serious. "Sure, Brick."

"Just give it to her when Ms. Keane gives them out. I'm sure she wouldn't mind breaking it in half & sharing it with you since you're being so nice & giving it to her."

Elmer smiled. No one (except for Blossom & Bubbles) was ever this nice to him. He nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Brick."

Brick chuckled darkly as he walked back to his seat to continue art time. "No. Thank you."

o(^+^)o

Boomer hit Brick's arm as soon as he looked up. "It's happening!"

Brick grinned. This was gonna be good. He elbowed Butch, who was busy opening his milk. "Hey, Butch Hair Cut! Looks like somebody's movin in on your territory."

Butch frowned & scanned the room for what he was talking about. He saw Elmer Sglue handing Buttercup his cookie. His mind seemed to short circuit as red filled his gaze.

Boomer snickered quietly. "What are you gonna do?"

Before he could blink, Butch had flown to Buttercup's side & punched Elmer. The poor recluse hit the wall hard & began crying.

The PowerPuff Girls leapt up at the display of violence. "Elmer!"

Butch clasped & unclasped his fists as he seethed. "Why was he giving you his cookie?!"

"Butch! You cannot hit Elmer like that!" Blossom lectured.

He ignored her completely as his eyes narrowed on Buttercup's face. "Why. was he. giving you. his cookie?!"

Buttercup punched him in the face.

Butch made a dent in the wall but climbed from the dust without a second thought. He flew at Buttercup & pinned her beneath him. She struggled to get him off but he clasped her tight. "Answer me!"

She struggled mightily. "I don't know!"

"What did I tell you?!"

"You're not the boss of me!"

"Yes, I am! I'm your husband & you have to do what I say!"

"You are not my husband, crazy!" She finally wedged her feet between them & pushed him into the ceiling. "Leave me alone!"

Butch dropped from the ceiling & braced himself for impact on the floor. He stood up & grinned madly. "You'll see. You love me."

"Ms. Keane!" Buttercup called to the teacher, who had been attending Elmer. "He won't leave me alone!"

Ms. Keane stood. "Butch JoJo! You're in the timeout corner for the rest of the afternoon! No hitting the other students!"

Butch didn't care. He flew to the stool in the corner & sat down. He blew a kiss to Buttercup, who hid behind their teacher.

Across the room, his brothers were holding in their chuckles.

o(^+^)o

"& then he blew her a kiss!" Bubbles exclaimed.

Professor Utonium blinked. "Wow. You've had quite the day."

"He's a stupid boy." Buttercup muttered.

"Where on Earth did he find this ring?" Her father held up her hand & examined it.

"He probably stole it." Blossom raised an eyebrow.

"Do you like this attention, Buttercup?" He asked the green eyed sullen child.

"No!" She said immediately.

"Then you must tell him. He has feelings for you so be nice."

Buttercup folded her arms across her chest & pouted. "Do I have to?"

"Do you want him to still like you?" He asked, misunderstanding her reluctance.

Buttercup sighed. "No."

"Okay then." Professor Utonium set his children in bed. "Goodnight, my loves."

"Goodnight, Professor!" All three chirped.

He kissed them goodnight then turned out their light before going out to call his favorite teacher.

Bubbles waited until she heard his door close before popping up. "I think it's so romantic!"

Buttercup frowned. "That's cuz you watch all those dumb movies."

"They're not dumb!" Bubbles held Octi closer & stuck her tongue out. "You're lucky Butch likes you."

"You only say that cuz you're into that stupid Boomer."

Bubbles burned. "I do not!"

"We all know, Bubbles." Blossom sighed, giving up on trying to sleep anytime soon.

Bubbles stuck her bottom lip out. "I don't mean to! He's just so cute & he's not as bad as his brothers & he gives me flowers sometimes &-!"

"Relax, Bubbles." Buttercup rolled her eyes. "We've known forever."

Bubbles held Octi tighter. "Is it okay if I sleep next to him during nap time?"

Blossom & Buttercup looked at each other before looking at her. "Fine."

Bubbles flew into the air & did loops. "Yay!"

"Shhh!" Blossom waved her arms. "The Professor could come back!"

Bubbles clapped her hands to her mouth before settling in the bed again. "I still think you should give Butch a chance."

"No way!" Buttercup exploded. "He's a boy! A dirty rotten stinking boy!"

"Is that your only hindrance?" Blossom asked, dryly.

Buttercup threw her a hateful glare. "I don't know what that means."

"Is the fact that he's a boy the only reason you don't like him?" Blossom spelled out.

"He's a RowdyRuff Boy! & he's an evil villain! & he likes picking on kids! & he's nasty."

Blossom & Bubbles giggled at the last, which was said with a blank face.

"I bet he doesn't even really like me. He's only doing it to mess with me. Well I won't let him win!"

o(^+^)o

He was winning!

At the moment, Butch was forcibly setting Buttercup on a swing so he could push her. He'd just given her flowers (buttercups) & proclaimed loudly that they were on a date.

"Put me down, you blockhead!"

Butch held her to the seat then got behind her to push. "You'll like it!"

"No!" Buttercup kicked her legs.

Butch used only a portion of his strength to push her.

Buttercup went into the air swiftly & came back, right into his hands. "Stop!"

Butch ignored her & kept pushing.

Buttercup got an idea. She stopped fussing & simply let him push her. When he least expected it, she flew a little higher then fell back with all her strength. The result was hitting Butch, sending him sailing over a mile away.

Buttercup smiled as she stopped herself & got off the swing. She went to stand beside Mitch. "Hey. Wanna play foursquare?"

Mitch chuckled. "Won't your husband get mad?"

She scowled. "He's not my husband!"

"I don't wanna end up like Elmer." Mitch laughed harder.

Buttercup turned to examine the shy youth, who was giving her a wide berth. She sighed heavily. "This isn't funny."

There was a deep cracking sound before Mitch's eyes widened. "I wasn't by her!" He threw his hands up & fled.

Buttercup could feel him breathing down her neck. She narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "You're back."

"Do I have to kill everyone?" Butch demanded.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She finally turned around.

"You're mine." He ground out.

She pouted. "I don't like you."

"Maybe not yet but you will." He promised as he took her hand & led her back to the swing.

o(^+^)o

"Hi, Boomer." Bubbles whispered.

Boomer's eyes widened. Bubbles was talking to him?! & it wasn't an insult?! "H-hi, Bubbles!"

She giggled. "I was wondering if you want to sleep next to me." She pointed to her pallet.

He leaned over to view it before straightening. "Uh… I don't know-"

Butch pushed him. "Just do it!"

"O-okay." Boomer stammered.

Bubbles shyly took his hand & led him to her sleeping spot. Boomer blushed the whole time. She lay down & pulled the blanket over herself.

He lay next to her & pulled the blanket around his shoulders.

She sweetly reached across the space separating them & took his hand.

He flushed so hot, he matched his brother's hat. But he gripped her hand back.

Butch watched the whole thing with envy before flying to his one true love. He touched onto the ground & rolled the kid next to her away. He lay down next to her & grabbed her hand.

She turned around sharply & glared at him. "Give me my hand back!"

"We have to sleep together to stay close." He rattled off.

She gave him a bizarre look. "I still don't like you."

"But it's closer. Right?" His face was full of hope.

"No."

His face fell before he slapped a grin on it. "You will."

o(^+^)o

"What are you two doing?" Brick demanded.

Boomer & Butch stopped looking in the shiny cases & looked up at their older brother. "Nothin!"

"You're looking at jewelry! Again! Why?!" The redhead crossed his arms.

"I'm not looking for no sissy jewelry!" Butch protested.

Brick came up to him & looked behind him. "You really think givin her a stolen necklace is going to make her like you?"

"She likes the ring!" Butch defended.

"No, she doesn't."

"She hasn't taken it off. & it's been three days." Boomer pointed out.

Brick sighed. "That's because she doesn't know it's stolen."

"Don't tell her." It was a no-brainer for the black haired hellion.

Brick sighed. "How long is this going to go on?"

"Stealing things? Forever." Butch laughed.

"No, you idiot. This thing with those girls."

"You're just mad Blossom sees you the same." Boomer declared.

Brick ripped his hat off in a fit of rage. "I don't care!"

"I think you do." Butch teased.

"Shut up!" Brick ordered with clenched teeth as his fists wrung his hat like a dish towel.

Boomer laughed. "Uh oh! He's mad that we have girlfriends & he's all alone!"

Butch laughed with him. "Can you say Forever Alone?!"

Brick growled before jumping on him. He got it one good right hook before Butch grinned & shot up. Brick took after him & shot at him with his laser eyes.

Butch laughed as he dodged out of the way & burst through the roof of the ceiling. The fight continued with Brick trying to land a punch on the slippery Butch.

Suddenly there was a wisp of air. "Stop right there, RowdyRuff Boys!"

Distracted, Butch stopped dodging & Brick was able to land a powerful uppercut. Butch went flying up before falling down. He hit the ground hard & took a few seconds to get up.

"Stop… whatever you're doing!" Blossom ordered.

"Or what, Pink Eyes?" Brick smirked. He was so focused on her; he didn't see Butch or his foot until he felt the latter on his rear end.

Buttercup giggled as Brick was booted into a building. Butch beamed. It seemed to be the first thing he'd done right all week.

"Hi, Bubbles." Boomer waved.

"Hi, Boomer." Bubbles waved back sweetly. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"I'm good. What are you guys doing?"

"Brick's just mad Blossom doesn't like him."

Blossom immediately burned. "What?"

"Leader Boy thinks you're so smart." Butch snickered.

Brick, who'd just disentangled himself from the side of the building, flew over to see them all laughing & Blossom blushing. "What'd you do?!"

Butch batted his eyelashes. "Who said we did anything?"

"Why are you all laughing?" He demanded.

"Because you're ugly?"

Brick launched himself at his laughing brother. Boomer hovered near Buttercup, who was laughing right along with him. Bubbles was giggling herself but Blossom was still flushed.

She clenched her fists as she tried to will away her blush. "Stop it! Stop it right now!"

Her bellow caused the two fighting boys to stop. They turned to view her.

"You cannot fight like this! You run the risk of tearing up the city! Grow up!"

Brick scowled. "We do what we want!"

"We'll take you to jail!"

His scowl grew darker. "You're a pain, you know that?"

She lifted a brow. "You're no pleasure yourself."

Butch wearied of their foreplay & floated to Buttercup. "I got this for ya."

Buttercup sighed before holding out her hand for another gift. He gave it to her & it was… plain. It was a silver charm bracelet without the charms. "Where are the charms?"

"I'm going to get you one every day we're together."

She blushed. "I didn't ask you to."

"I know. I want to."

"You're so weird, Twitchy."

"Don't call me Twitchy!" His left eye twitched.

"You're twitching now!"

He slapped a hand over his eye. "Be nice!"

She stopped laughing & merely smiled at him. "Stay outta trouble, T."

"That goes for all of you." Blossom gave Brick the evil eye.

"Bye, Boomer." Bubbles waved as she & her sisters flew away.

Boomer waved until he could no longer see her.

Brick crossed his arms over his chest. "You two are idiots."

o(^+^)o

It'd been two weeks & everyday his brothers had lost their minds over girls. Brick was exasperated & humiliated. It was embarrassing to have his brothers so gaga over girls & goody-goody girls at that!

Every day, Boomer slept next to Bubbles at nap time & brought her flowers in the morning. Every day, Butch brought Buttercup a different flower, slept next to her during nap time, gave her half his cookie at snack time & drew pictures for her during art time.

It was unsettling to say the least.

Brick sighed as he watched his brothers make complete fools of themselves. Butch was drawing crude drawings on the blacktop for Buttercup to laugh at while Boomer was pushing Bubbles on the tire swing. He was sickened.

"Why are your brothers tormenting my sisters?" A voice demanded.

He frowned. "Why are your sisters enticing my brothers?"

"We're five; they're not enticing anyone!" Blossom crossed her arms as she sat next to him on the ground.

"Then why are my idiotic brothers fawning over your girly sisters like they invented candy?" Brick noted her movements.

"It would seem as though you miss them." Blossom raised a brow.

Brick sputtered. "No, I don't!"

Blossom eyed him for a long time before asking, "Do you think I'm smart?"

Brick was taken aback by the deceptively simple question. "What?"

"Do you think I'm smart?" She asked in exactly the same way.

He was quiet for a long time before admitting in a pain filled tone. "Yes."

She nodded slowly. "I think you're smart, too."

Since he was so smart, he knew something was happening. He just didn't know what. "Uh… thanks."

Blossom tucked her hair behind her right ear shyly. "Would you like to color with me?"

Brick was gobsmacked. Was she being nice to him?! "What?!"

"I just got a new coloring book & it has a bunch of cars in it." She willed herself not to blush.

Brick was going to refuse but he liked cars. "Okay."

"Okay?" Blossom was expecting that no.

"Yeah." Brick stood up.

Blossom beamed as she stood up, too. "It's in my backpack. I'll go get it."

Brick watched her go as a funny feeling invaded his chest. He felt it every time she smiled but since it was directed at him (for the very first time at that); he was close to passing out.

Maybe girls weren't so bad after all?