Hello there again! It appears ThatGirl is trying to write something NOT depressing. GASP! Yes this will be my first non-depressing saga. But I must warn you all this is going to be LONG. This is just the Preface. But that's all right, the chapters are actually shorter. So this is my second PPG fic, I ask that you Read & Respond and expect more.

Preface

The line at the portrait studio ran right out the door. Mr. Banwick certainly would make a bundle this Christmas with all the rich and wealthy of Townsville heading to his now elegant shop. There were still some of his old favorite customers in the line though. Near the end he thought he saw Mrs. Martin and her three little boys, my how they were growing. He remembered taking their picture when they were mere babes in diapered bottoms. He chuckled at the thought.

Mr. Banwick turned his attention then toward the front of the line and groaned. With his shop now elegant and practically high-class material (after the renovations) all the snotty were there. And who snottier than Mrs. Victoria Lukan and her odd daughter?

Mrs. Lukan was a filthy rich woman with a husband that had more money than Front Knox. But while the blonde hair snob was beautiful, for most of her marriage she was miserable. Her husband (with the hum-drum name of Charles) and herself had wanted a baby since they'd been wed. But, a short trip to the doctor's office confirmed what was said to be Victoria's worst fear. She was unable to become a mother.

The woman was only slightly depressed. The one thing about Victoria that made her just as shallow than all the others was that she only wanted a child to carry on the lineage. She didn't want a child to love or care for, just some one to take care of the family's riches when she and Charles had met their end.

Then, one morning something wonderful happened to the couple. Nana (Victoria's old nanny which she couldn't force herself to get rid of although they had no children) heard a knock on the large imported doors of the house. It seemed awfully strange that considering most of the people used the musical chiming doorbell. Nana poked her gray-haired head out to see nothing but the blue skies and fertile lawn of the Lukan estates. She scratched her confused head when she heard the cooing of a baby. To Nana's surprise, someone had left a basket on the Lukan's front doorstep. She had called to her Mistress.

When Victoria saw this, she was overjoyed. Someone had heard her prayers and sent her a darling baby. Her cold heart raised a few degrees as she reached down for the child and Nana noticed a note on the basket. She read it aloud:

Dear kind stranger,

I am but a poor woman with little to offer this child. I know that you are good, kind, and generous people who will take care of my baby girl. I only wish I could. I'm sorry but you're the only one's who can help her. Her name is Blossom. Please take care of her.

Sincerely,

A lost mother

Just as Nana had finished reading the letter, Victoria let out a horrified screech dropping the poor babe to the ground. Nana, dove catching the now screaming child before it hit the marble steps of the home. She looked up at a flustered Victoria who was backed up against the decorative Italian door with a skinny hand on her icy heart.

"The child is HIDEOUS!" The blonde woman cried out pointing a well-manicured finger toward the child. Nana looked at the child cautiously and gasped.

The child had beautiful locks of red hair that was messily displayed around her tear-stained face. Her eyes were large, almost incomprehensibly so and the iris was surprisingly a rosy pink color. It gave the babe an almost mouse-like look to her. But the baby's face lacked a nose and she had no ears. Nana lifted the child to see that this babe had lost all of its toes and fingers. The child wailed loudly and Nana, although shocked, held her comfortingly.

"I fear I may be ill." Victoria whined grasping onto the door handle for support.

"Now, now, my dear. She still is a baby, and she still needs our care. The woman who left her to us needs us to care for her." The child was calming and looked up at Nana with her pink eyes and red face. Nana's eyes twinkled lovingly. "Besides, she still looks beautiful to me." Victoria regained her composure and looked at the child. In some odd sense the child did seem beautiful.

"What should I name her?" Victoria questioned as Nana rocked the child.

"She already has a name...Blossom."

And so that's how the tale went. After a complete check-up by the family's personal doctor, the child was found free of sicknesses and surprisingly enough, still had ways in which to hold objects without the use of her fingers.

Mr. Banwick groaned again. Now he had to photograph this stuck up snob and her two-year-old freakish daughter. His store was not only swamped with the high-class, but with all of Townsville's local celebrities. Mr. Banwick gave a delighted laugh when he spotted the Fisher family.

Jack Fisher was one of the most handsome, brilliant, and charming blonds to ever grace the TV screen. Although he was a mere car salesman, his bright smile and perfect demeanor made him Townsville's "Most Likeable Guy". However, at that moment, Jack seemed less than likeable.

Jack massaged him temples slowly trying to keep his fiery temper down. He was in public and he had to remind himself that. I'm in public, I'm in public, I'm in public. Jack repeated several times in his mind just as his two-year-old daughter raced by his feet babbling something. Of course his lovely wife, Nancy, wasn't doing anything about it. He growled lowly, secretly regretting the day he'd picked up the child.

It had been a bright Sunday morning. The sunniest sky and the greenest grass seemed to be right outside the Fisher's home. Ah, the Fisher's were the model family. Mr. Fisher was the average "honest" businessman and his wife Nancy was the beautiful and cheery housewife. But, the Fisher's were childless. Jack and his publicist argued for hours on the topic of children. Jack, LOATHED children.

Mr. Fisher had been a very private man until his business started. He never liked children, but his publicist insisted that Jack have a child to further boost himself as a "family man". But, Jack's marriage was a sham and he didn't want to have to deal with children. Nancy wasn't too happy about the idea, she wasn't a very bright woman and spent most of her time (off camera of course) taking unnecessary prescription drugs for her hypochondriac state in the privacy of their perfect home. She really didn't want to stop having all that free time.

Then, that one beautiful morning, perfect Mr. Fisher staggered to his white-painted front door and opened it wide to find a small basket on the doorstep. Curious, Mr. Fisher kneeled down to it in his dark blue robe and touched the sky blue blanket that dressed the inside of the basket. A tiny giggle emerged from inside. Jack raised an eyebrow and lifted the blanket carefully.

Two big blue eyes looked up into his own. Suddenly the little blanketed bundle kicked and giggled. The blanket was caught around the blonde-haired baby's legs as she giggled playfully. At first even the child-hater Jack Fisher felt his heart melt. But then he saw that the child was horribly disfigured. It was missing its nose and its ears. On closer inspection, he found she had no bellybutton. The child playfully put her tiny no-fingered mitt on the handsome man's nose, batting at it. He stumbled back falling on his butt. The child smiled and let out another high-pitched squeal.

Jack blinked at the child slowly coming to the realization that this might just be the ticket. The tiny blue-eyed babe was just the thing he needed for his "family man" commercials. Although she was a little odd, she was surprisingly adorable. He reached his hand into the basket shakily, as if reaching into a bag filled with mousetraps. He picked up the child and she smiled sweetly.

"NANCY!" Jack called up the stairs. His brown-haired wife practically fell down the stairs, the banister her only support.

"What is it Jack?" She uttered wobbling up next to him.

"Look what someone left us." He showed up the tiny blonde baby. She laughed again waving her arms. Nancy squinted her eyes closely.

"I gotta stop taking those…I can't see her nose." She rubbed a hand over her pretty face.

"She doesn't have a nose Nancy. Don't ya see?" Jack grinned almost sinisterly, "She's the perfect candidate for the child in our commercials! The whole 'found-on-our-doorstep-story' is PRICELESS. And the fact that she's 'disabled' adds the sympathy! And besides, blonde hair and blue eyes? She's the darn Aryan Race in our hands." Jack laughed almost evilly. "Such a perfect little present."

"And without all the messy process of pregnancy." Nancy smiled a little herself.

"Perfect." Jack had said that day, beaming over his new found "pride and joy". He had said.

Jack massaged his temples more furiously as his two-year-old tornado blew by again babbling further. She was the most excitable little girl in the whole line. Her dark blue dress flipped up ever time she leapt into the air. Her blonde pigtails bounced as the energetic toddler gleefully skipped up and down the line.

"Bubbles!" Jack let out a yell that sounded more like a sweet-tempered call. Why any God-fearing woman would cruelly name a child that was beyond Mr. Fisher. All he knew was that it was the name scripted on the note he found in the basket. Jack and Nancy didn't feel like changing it, so they kept it anyway. He shot a glare at Nancy as the "tornado" pestered a young couple down the line. Nancy had a well-manicured hand to her face as she slowly shook her head, wishing she were home to take a smoke. Jack called for his daughter again, "Bubbles, sweetheart, come here."

"Oh Dah-dy dah-dy!" The child vivaciously bounded toward her parent. "I can't wait ta get my pisture takin'!" The child poorly pronounced. Jack chuckled lightly holding the squirming toddler. On the inside he wanted to tape her mouth shut.

"As soon as Mr. Banwick is ready, Sweetie." Jack cooed planting a peck on the cheek of his adopted daughter. Mr. Banwick bit his lower lip. He so loved to speak with his customers, and getting to know the mild-mannered Mr. Fisher would do WONDERS for Mr. Banwick's rep. What other people could he get to know to better improve his social status?

As Mr. Banwick looked down the line of customers he saw a beautiful face. He smiled brightly and approached the young woman he recognized well. He quickly slicked back one of the few remaining hairs on his bald head and smiled at her.

"Why hello there, Ms. Robins. It's been a while hasn't it?" Mr. Banwick grinned pleasantly. Ms. Robins was as pretty as she was charming with locks of crimson hair that curled around her shoulders and bright green eyes that lit up at the sight of Mr. Banwick. She looked stunning, dressed up for the picture. Her hair was slightly curled with two curly strands framing her lovely face. Her dress was long, reaching the floor but complimenting her slender figure. The dress was a deep red with short sleeves that exposed her shoulders. She had a golden heart locket on and the middle of the dress was also golden with an intricate pattern that circled around to the back where it was kept on with an elegant bow. She looked absolutely lovely.

"Please, call me 'Red', Mr. Banwick. It's wonderful to see you again." She commented politely. Mr. Banwick couldn't help but smile at her pretty face. He remembered when she was just a little girl asking for lollipops after her family photo. Poor, Ms. Robins. She was one of the most feared and despised people in town, despite her charm and beauty.

Back when Ms. Robins (or Red as she was nicknamed for her hair) was but a child she had been the target of police. Her parents were notorious bank robbers that were known throughout the city. Police always questioned her, to see if she had any connection to the parent's crimes, perhaps if they'd told her something. But Red was in the dark as much as the police were.

Her parents were always on the run and constantly left the little girl with friends who would only keep her for a short while. Red used to tell Mr. Banwick stories of how her mother would kiss her on the forehead, say "I love you" and disappear, leaving little Red wondering whether she'd ever feel her mother's kiss on her forehead again.

Near Red's eighth birthday party came the tragic death of her parents. She had been waiting excitedly for her parent's return to the city and for her. Her father had called and promised, promised her that they'd be home and that this would be the very last time they broke the law. Then they would take her to somewhere in the country and live normal, decent lives. And her father always kept his promises.

But that time he didn't come home. Red's father and mother had just finished taking the last dime from the mint and were making their getaway when a huge explosion enveloped the whole building and killed all who were inside. The blast blew back the people on the streets, the flames circling the whole building. The police suspected that the "Bonnie and Clyde" of now a days had accidentally tripped off one of their own bombs. But Red knew her parents would never kill. And they didn't use bombs either. However, Red's parents became the scapegoat and although they were deceased, the citizens of Townsville could take out their anger and sorrow on their poor daughter.

That was the story of Red's life. Her parent's friends quickly turned on her and she was sent to an orphanage only three days after her 8th birthday. She lived there till she was old enough to get a job. Even then it was hard for her, everyone was still wary over a murderer's daughter. But, thankfully one man hired her at (surprisingly enough) a bank. Where Red worked as hard as she could, trying to revoke the nasty stain on her name.

Mr. Banwick was about to ask her about the job when he heard a long wail. His spectacle-framed eyes cast down to see a small girl that couldn't have been more than two years old in her arms. It was kicking and screaming and throwing a huge fit. Mr. Banwick's eyes opened in surprise but then twinkled joyously.

"Why Ms. Robins, don't tell me you're a 'Mrs.' Now." Mr. Banwick chuckled, "Better yet, please tell me that you are!" He let out he guffaw at his own joke. Red smiled coyly and tried to shush the toddler.

"Actually Mr. Banwick. I'm still a Ms." She commented shushing the child. "Hush now, Buttercup," She rocked the frumpy little girl. "Be patient! You won't have to wear this dress much longer." The child whom she'd called "Buttercup" was dressed in a red dress similar to her mother's, except the sleeves rested on the child's shoulders and the dress wasn't nearly as low cut or long. But the child's dress still had an elegant (well as elegant as the toddler's bow could be) yellow bow in the back. A red bow topped her head with a yellow center. It fit nicely with her outfit as it poked through the mass of black tresses. Red had curled the little girl's black hair giving the toddler an almost Shirley Temple-ish look to her. The last elements to the child's dress were delicate golden shoes and a golden heart locket, much like her mother's. The toddler crossed her arms and kicked some more while Red tried to calm her.

"No!" The little child complained trying to release herself from her mother's hold.

"I say, Ms. Robins," Mr. Banwick began nervously, "isn't that sort of business a little sacrilegious?" He asked when he noticed something odd about the child. "GOOD GOD!" Mr. Banwick cried shielding himself from the child with his arms. "That child has no nose!" He pointed an accusing finger.

Red Robins was appalled at her old friend's behavior toward her little girl. Buttercup wasn't too happy about the man either. She stuck out her tongue and rasberried him, crossing her little arms in a huff.

"Please Mr. Banwick!" Red exclaimed, seeing her baby girl upset. "Let me explain--"

"What happened? Is her father also your cousin?" He questioned. Red looked even more appalled but calmed herself. Her mother had always told her to turn the other cheek and not to get angry, Red was trying to teach this to her own little daughter (who for some unknown reason had a little bit of a violent streak in her).

"Mr. Banwick please." She stated calmly, holding Buttercup close, as if to protect her. "First, off your comments might be hurting her feelings. Let me just tell you her story. I had my day off from work at the bank and I thought I'd get some work done around the house. I had been cleaning all day and I was tired. All I had left was to take out the trash. While I was leaving my apartment, I heard someone crying."

"Her?" Mr. Banwick asked pointing to the still pouting child.

"Yes, her." Red stated and continued. "I knew no one on my floor had a baby, except Mrs. Johnson but her baby was about three at the time. Anyway, I put down the garbage and came over to see a weaved basket with a green blanket inside it and a note attached to it. The basket was just outside of Mr. Grunther's door."

"Mr. Grunther?" Mr. Banwick thought a moment. "Oh yes! Mr. Grunther! What a horrible man he was. What was such an…odd little girl doing outside that wretched man's door?" He asked.

"I'm getting there, Mr. Banwick." She commented shifting the now, quieter child to the other side. "Anyway, I read the note which was apparently from a friend of Mr. Grunther's that thought he'd be a good parent. But, Mr. Grunther had moved a few days before and I guess his friend didn't hear about it. So…I kind of took her in as my own." Red nuzzled the child affectionately; "She's my little angel." Buttercup struggled a bit at the sudden nuzzle but then gave a little nuzzle of her own back.

"But…she has no nose…" Mr. Banwick pointed out again. Red shot him a dirty glare.

"That doesn't mean she's not a person!" She snapped quickly.

"I'm a angel." Buttercup responded also pouting she grabbed onto Mr. Banwick's glasses and started flinging them wildly. "An' yer a mean man!"

"And although she has no fingers, she can still grab things." Red nodded swiftly. She hoped Buttercup would break Mr. Banwick's glasses but she kept that to herself. Besides, she was still good friends with him. Despite his rudeness. "Come on Buttercup," She soothed softly taking Mr. Banwick's gold rimmed glasses from the child's mitt, "these are Mr. Banwick's." Red handed them to Mr. Banwick and decided to forget about his comments, after all, many people reacted the same way.

Mr. Banwick adjusted his spectacles blinking a few times at the frowning little girl. He sighed knowing it was time to get things underway. He first apologized to his old friend.

"I'm sorry Red, I always get surprised by these nose-less tykes." He chuckled nervously. "Anyway, the shop is very busy and some of us have to get home for Christmas. So, I'll be taking you and two others at once." Mr. Banwick motioned for Red to follow him.

Which two other families to take? Mr. Banwick thought. He scanned the line again and saw an overly dressed Victoria Lukan standing impatiently with her little girl poised with perfect posture by her side. He really didn't like the Lukans and thought it best to get it over with as soon as possible. Mr. Banwick then saw a little blonde blur rush around his legs. He sighed; he'd give anything to get rid of all the children in line. But this one would do fine. Okay, Mr. Banwick recapped his decision my dear friend Red and her brat, those snobby Lukans, and the Fishers and the little tornado. He nodded pleased with his decision.

"Mrs. Lukan, Mr. Fisher, please follow me." He beckoned the families to follow him, "I'm afraid I'll have to take the three..er…" He recounted all the parties, "seven of you together."

"You mean…" Mrs. Lukan began, "all in the same photograph? Mr. Banwick I will not have my portrait be taken with five plebeians. And if you think that I will-" She began to rave, her redheaded child giving a slight nod. The solid gold tiara on top of the two-year-old's head bent foreword slightly as she agreed. The pure emeralds embedded in the tiara sparkled in the florescent light. The adornment was heavy but, for some reason, it didn't bother the child. She was dressed in a long green gown with no sleeves. It was held up in some miraculous way as she stood uncomfortably but remembering that she wasn't allowed to fidget. Her 24 karat shoes were also beginning to annoy her.

"Mrs. Lukan," Mr. Banwick sighed putting a hand to his forehead, "you won't take the photo with them. I just mean that I'll have to take your pictures quickly, one after the other. There are many people in line. You three will just be the first batch."

The three families uneasily traveled single file behind Mr. Banwick and into the brightly lit and beautiful studio. Little Bubbles was still tearing around jumping and skipping alongside her parents while Blossom Lukan walked gracefully (well gracefully for a two-year-old) next to her mother, and Buttercup remained in her mother's arms. The three girls looked at one another, to examine the new "playmates" as the Mr. Banwick spoke again.

"Now which one of you would like to go first?" Mr. Banwick asked to the parents.

"Well," Red started calmly, "I was before all of you so my daughter and I will go first."

"Excellent, shall I-" Mr. Banwick began when Mrs. Lukan spoke up.

"I do not think so! My daughter and I shall go first. A Lukan is NEVER second to ANYBODY. Especially not to a philistine such as yourself." Victoria stuck her nose into the air. Red's mouth dropped open in surprise at the sheer insulting of Victoria's words.

"Well uh…" Mr. Banwick tried again to intervene.

"Well, folks," Jack Fisher smiled as if he were advertising, "I understand where the two of you are coming from, but you see my family and I have a party to get to tonight and I do need to pick up my suit from the cleaner's. I would really hate to be late to that, especially since it's Christmas and all. Don't you ladies worry, we'll be done in a Jif." He smiled his winner's grin. But, Mrs. Lukan would not have it.

"Oh no you do not! A Lukan never goes second and I for one will not-"

"How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" Red interrupted finally getting over her shock. She put Buttercup down as not to drop her. "How rude of you to say that to-"

"NO ONE interrupts a Luk-"

"Now folks, it's getting late…" Jack also intruded. Before Mr. Banwick knew it, he had three arguing customers…wasting valuable time. He sighed trying to stop their bickering. Meanwhile, the children had found themselves strangely interested with one another. Each child toddled towards the other two (except Blossom who walked like a lady).

The toddlers stood in front of each other, a finger-less mitt to their faces. It was like a mirror image with different hair and eye colors. All had the same large eyes and large heads. They each lacked noses, ears, necks, digits, and although they weren't sure, bellybuttons. There was a long silence as they looked over one another. They felt that somehow they were connected to one another although they'd just met. But, their young minds couldn't compute how. Bubbles broke the silence.

"Yer funny lookin'." She plainly stated. Buttercup frowned and crossed her little arms.

"Yer not so preety either." She also mispronounced. Blossom spoke up.

"You two look oddly familiar to me although I do not believe we have made acquaintances." Blossom said very articulately. The other two stared blankly at her.

"And ya talk funny." Bubbles nodded her head. Blossom rolled her big pink eyes. Philistine She thought. She tried again to make intelligent communication.

"Perhaps we are actually related to one another. Perhaps we are sisters." She suggested putting her hands behind her back.

"Not-uh." Buttercup shook her head, tiny curls flying in front of her face. "I'm a only kid. My Mommy's over der." She pointed with her mitt at the arguing woman in red.

"She's preety." Bubbles commented looking thoughtfully at Red, then to her own mother, then back to Red.

"Yup." Buttercup smiled proudly.

"My mother is prettier." Blossom stated matter-of-factly. Buttercup shot daggers at her with her green eyes.

"She is not! My mommy's much more better." She cried.

"No one is better than a Lukan." Blossom stuck her…face into the air arrogantly. This was what she had been taught her entire life, and some little philistine wasn't about to change her mind. The tiny brunette's temper flared as the strange girl made fun of the most important person in her life.

"Well my Mommy is and so am I!" Buttercup quickly snatched the tiara off of the little Lukan's head. Blossom cried out in surprise reaching for her token of pride.

"That is mine you little brat! How dare you touch something of beauty with your unworthy hands!" Blossom snatched at the golden idol.

"Nah nah!" Buttercup stuck out her tongue. "Yer mean an' not nice an' this is mine now."

"Yer doin' sumtin' baaaaadd." Bubbles pointed out. "I'm tellin'!" She skipped off to tattle to her father. The moments of recognition and understanding were over as Blossom fought for her crown. "Dah-dy! Dah-dy!" The tornado cried tugging at her father's pant leg. But, the handsome man was much too involved in his own argument.

"Now see here, Miss…" He argued, ignoring his child. She frowned and began to tug at her mother's dress. But her mother also ignored her, just wishing for a smoke.

"Mom-my!" Bubbles pleaded. But the woman didn't even look down.

"Well, you are a brutish and horrible child! I will have your mother fired from where ever she works! We Lukans own this town!" Blossom stated stomping her gold shoes on the ground in a princess hissy fit. Buttercup giggled.

"Sticks an' stones may break my bones but….but…" Buttercup brought a mitt to her non-existent chin, struggling to remember the rest. Blossom took the opportunity and snatched back her tiara. "Hey!"

"Ha!" Blossom laughed, readjusting her headpiece; "You are also slow-witted and dumb." Buttercup burned.

"You callin' me stoopid?"

"You are just proving my point. Now go away before you embarrass yourself further." Blossom dismissed the angered peasant. She suddenly found herself to the floor. "OOF! How dare you! This dress is worth more than your life! Get off before you-OOF!" Buttercup smashed Blossom harshly across the face.

This was both of the two-year-old's first fight…ever. But they felt as though they'd done it before, even with one another. Buttercup's insatiable temper fired up as she knocked the prissy princess across the face. She brought her clenched…mitt up and smashed again, pinning Blossom down as she continued to fight. Blossom, too, had never been in a fight but found her own rage rising. The Lukan's were never to usually engage in such caveman behavior. But Blossom's temper was far worse than her mother's or any other blood-related Lukan. She began to fight back.

"MOM-MY!" The tornado told as the two toddlers tousled. Nancy shook her head and waved Bubbles away.

"Go away, honey. Not now." Nancy held her head. Bubbles was persistent though as the fighting got worse and worse. People shouldn't fight. This is bad. She thought tugging harder.

Blossom had Buttercup's locket in her mitt and was pulling it hard while Buttercup held Blossom's tiara again. The golden locket's chain broke and shattered. Buttercup's eyes widened as her precious locket's chain broke.

"My locket!" She screeched reaching for it desperately no longer interested in fighting or the tiara. "Give it back give it back!" She reached but Blossom held it out of her reach.

"Give me back my priceless emerald-studded tiara, and you may have your cheap piece of junk." Blossom stated waving the shinning heart-locket in the air. Buttercup was desperate for her gift. It was Buttercup's very first present from her mother for that Christmas. Red had told her that she would have one too, so they could keep each other close to their hearts. Buttercup and her mother's picture were inside that locket, Buttercup's picture on one side her mother's on the other.

"Okay okay! Please give it back!" She begged. Buttercup handed Blossom her tiara. But while Blossom's hand got close to giving back the heart-locket, she grew an evil smirk and took it away along with her tiara. "HEY!" Buttercup shouted at the dirty trick.

"Ha! That should teach you." Blossom put the tiara into place again. "No one quarrels with a Lukan." Buttercup reached back.

"Gimme my locket! That's my locket! Is mine is mine!" Buttercup quickly grabbed onto one side of the locket.

"HEY!" Blossom grabbed onto the locket tight. Both toddlers began to pull.

Bubbles frowned upon her mother's ignoring and began to tug on the hem of Red's dress. Red immediately looked down to the blue-eyed child.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Red questioned disengaging in the argument as Mr. Fisher and Mrs. Lukan battled on.

"Mrs. Lady ma'am." Bubbles began cutely pointing out a mitt. "Yer lil' girl and the other girl are fightin' an' no one's stoppin' em." The blonde babe looked towards the brawling toddlers.

"OH MY GOD!" Red cried rushing over to stop her tiny child. Oh goodness no! I've tried so hard to get rid of that violent streak. "Buttercup no!" She cried. Suddenly, the locket broke, the hinge snapping the locket into two sections, from the surprisingly strong force being exerted upon it. Blossom and Buttercup fell back to the tiled floor. "Oh no!" Red cried rushing over to the children. Even Jack and Victoria stopped long enough to notice the children lying on their backs. Red rushed over to the two. "Are you two all right?"

"Oh my God." Mrs. Lukan covered her mouth with her skinny hands, "That dress is worth $32,000! If that dress is ruined, I will sue!" Victoria walked swiftly (not wanting to ruin her lady-like disposition) to her child.

"See," Bubbles said, "I toldja ya shoulda lis'ened ta me." Bubbles stated as the mothers came to their children's side.

"Buttercup baby, are you all right?" She cradled her small child. The toddler's mouth was opened wide in shock. Suddenly, the two-year-old let out a wail and clutched herself to her mother.

"Mommy! Mommy! She broked it! She broked it!" The toddler wept into the velvet red of her dress. Red held her child into her, hushing her softly. But, the little girl was practically in hysterics. The locket had meant practically everything to her.

Blossom stared over at the mother and daughter. She felt a pang of something in her chest. She'd never felt this before. It felt bad. She was ashamed of what she had done. The little curly-topped kid was weeping so hard Blossom's own eyes began to water.

"Oh my goodness!" Victoria forced Blossom to her feet. "Get up, get up!" She searched over the child's dress looking for marks. "If there is one mark on this dress that women will be sued." Mrs. Lukan was relieved to find no marks on the green gown. She looked over her child. "Oh my, you are not hurt are you darling?" Victoria finally asked. Blossom's eyes were watering.

"Mommy I feel bad." Blossom said putting a hand to her heart.

"Well, do not worry. I will sue that woman so much she will be in the pauper's house for her entire life! Her and that obnoxious little brat!" Victoria glared at the redheaded woman and her dark-haired daughter.

"No, I feel bad inside. My heart hurts. I did something bad." She looked down sadly. Mrs. Lukan was flustered and in almost a state of hysterics herself.

"Oh no!" She began grabbing her child's hand. But because Blossom was so short, it seemed pointless to try to drag the toddler along. "Come Blossom!" She marched up to Mr. Banwick who was baffled on what to do. "Mr. Banwick, I will NEVER come back to such a place where they serve MISCREANTS such as THAT wretched woman. How dare you let CRIMINALS into this place."

Red felt her heart sting as Mrs. Lukan called her a name many had yelled to her before. Because of her parent's notorious careers, many people assumed Red followed in the same manner. But, Red ignored the comment, getting into another fight would only prove to be a bad example to her wailing child.

"I will have you and that woman and this whole block SUED! You should be ashamed!" She took her finger from where she pointed it directly into Mr. Banwick's chest. "And you," She then turned her attention to Red and her tiny trembling toddler. "You are the most despicable woman I have ever met! You and your little brat deserve that broken piece of trash." Victoria glared nastily spitting out the next words (not literally spitting, she's too lady-like), "You should have blown up in that bank like your parents."

Red's mouth dropped open in surprise. The hurtful words rung in her ears and she felt tears well up in her own eyes. She'd never heard anybody say such a thing. She felt her world shatter and her heart break. She bit her lower lip in an attempt to keep the tears away. Buttercup just gripped harder onto her mother. Red was reminded of the one thing that brought her strength and held Buttercup to her. The two would be each other's support.

"Come Blossom. Let us leave these plebeians." She marched out of the studio, but Blossom remained looking sorrow-filled. "I said COME!" Mrs. Lukan grabbed her daughter by the hand and practically dragged her away. Blossom called back quickly.

"I'm sorry!" But, Mrs. Lukan was already out the door. Blossom looked down in defeat.

"Hush now, Buttercup." Red whispered, hiding her tears as the two sat in the middle of the floor.

"But…but she broked it Mommy. Is aw broked." The child held up the tiny heart-locket. The side she had had Red's smiling picture in it. But, the child was still very upset. Red kissed the child's forehead gently.

"It's okay, sunshine, all that matters is that you're all right. We can fix the locket." Red smiled looking into her daughter's green eyes. Buttercup sniffed softly holding the golden token to her heart.

"Really?" She felt more reassured. Red nodded and wiped the tears away from her child's cheek.

"Don't worry, darling, it's just a little busted up. We'll fix it." She scooped her child into her arms and Buttercup's bright smile shined through.

"Les get it fizzed now!" She exclaimed feeling better all ready. Red nuzzled her, happy that her daughter was smiling again.

"Mr. Banwick," Red turned to the frightened man, "we'll have to reschedule. We need to get home. I'm so sorry about the disturbance." Red politely bowed her head, the long dress caressing the tiled floor. "Thank you anyway." Red smiled brightly, although inside Mrs. Lukan's words still hurt her.

"Oh, Red, I…I'm sorry that that woman had to…I mean she was…" Mr. Banwick stammered. Red shook it off.

"Don't worry Mr. Banwick. We'll be fine. We'll reschedule for a different time. You do have a lot of people to see." She nodded and left. "Goodbye Mr. Banwick. Have a wonderful day." She carried her toddler out the door.

"Bye nice lady!" Bubbles cried as Red and Buttercup left. She turned toward her father who had witnessed the whole scene. "Ya shoulda lis'ened ta me, Dah-dy." The tornado giggled and skipped. "I dun a good thing. I'm sut a good gurl!" The child giggled and skipped around.

"Well I guess this means we can go first." Jack smiled without any sympathy for either family. Mr. Banwick shrugged but prepared the camera.

"Aren I good, Dah-dy?" The child chortled. Jack so badly wanted her to be quiet, just for once. He rubbed his forehead as Nancy stood next to him.

"Let's just get this over with. I'm tired and I need a smoke." Nancy whined as Bubbles began to pester Mr. Banwick.

"I swear Nancy," He whispered, "I'm just gonna snap and whack that brat. I'm just gonna I'm gonna…" He grit his teeth clenching his fists.

"It's okay Jack. It's just the terrible two's and that stuff." Nancy sighed as she stated the sentence blandly.

"Just one of these times Nancy…" He trailed off as Mr. Banwick chased after the tornado, struggling to halt the destructive child.

In the stretch limo of the Lukan's, Blossom Laura Lukan sat far away from her well-dressed mother. Blossom looked toward her blonde-haired mother who was relaying the whole story to their chauffeur, Xaiver, who looked quite bored.

"And then my poor baby is on the ground and..and…oh I just can not believe it." Victoria whipped out her cell phone; "I am calling our lawyers. They will sue that nasty, NASTY woman. Do not worry Blossom. Your mother will make them pay. No one attacks a Lukan." Victoria stated listening intently to the cell phone.

"Mother," Blossom began, "I don't want you to sue them. They looked so sad. And I'm really quite all right." She looked toward her mother. "I just feel so…so bad…" Blossom's eyes welled up with tears.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Mrs. Lukan held up a finger to Blossom, "Crying ruins make-up. No tears, no problem." Victoria returned to her phone. "Damn it all! Christmas Eve Day and everybody thinks they can take the day off!" She hung up quickly. "I am calling Charles. He will hear of this outrage." She dialed a long extended number. Blossom frowned.

"Mother…Mommy." She tried calling her mother that again; "I don't WANT you to sue them. They didn't hurt me. I'm okay. Let's just not sue them and maybe even say we're sorry." Blossom stated. Mrs. Lukan hung up the cell phone and Blossom smiled.

"Dear Lord. Those wretched people have made you use contractions. I think I will faint." Victoria put the backside of her hand to her forehead. Blossom frowned, her mother would never EVER understand. Her mother was to high above, to prim and proper. She was just another thing to her mother. But, it would take Blossom YEARS to realize this. At that moment, all she knew is for the first time in her life her mother was NOT right. Blossom frowned and looked at the half of a locket still in her mitt.

The picture of a black-haired little girl smiled back at her. This was the little girl she had made cry that very day. This was a picture of the little girl she'd hurt. And Blossom felt bad. Although Blossom couldn't understand it entirely yet, she decided to keep the locket, to remember that day and that feeling and that one person. She was on her way to realizing the truth. She wished she'd never hurt that girl. But wishing was what had started everything.