Oneshot: Thanksgiving Grace Period

Rating: K

Genre: Romance; General.

Pairings: Butch x Blossom

Summary: Thanksgiving's always been a family holiday. But what happens when Butch and Blossom, who have been separated for nearly six months, are forced to find common ground in order to settle the plans for their kids' Thanksgiving? Who will win this custody battle?


"Blossom, for goodness sake, stop being such a prissy child about this. You've already got custody of them for Christmas, why can't I have them for thanksgiving? How is any way is that fair?"

The Puff focused on her cooking, trying her best not to ignore the ranting ex on the other end of the phone line. "Well, Butch, you should have figured that out when you decided to cheat on me with that skank Brute. Maybe if you had thought through that ill-advised decision, your kids wouldn't be in the middle of a custody battle for their second favorite holiday."

Butch groaned angrily, the door of his car slamming very noticeable through the phone. "Oh for Christ's sake! How many times am I going to have to apologize for that? I know I fucked up, big time, and I've been trying hard as hell to make it up to you for six months! Why can't you just give me a chance to really redeem myself? You know I only ever loved you. Brute was the biggest mistake of my life. Are you really willing to let seven years of marriage go over that one mistake? I forgave you in high school with you one time with Brick while we were together."

She was suddenly furious, throwing the spoon down into its bowl, sending potato salad flying. "Don't even pull that with me! We were on a break, a three month break mind you. With you we were actually married, and your six times with her was certainly not a one time slip up. Unless you just happened to trip and your dick ended up in her crotch. Have I suddenly forgotten everything I ever learned in physics class? Is that it?"

For a moment, the Ruff said nothing, the sound of his erratic breathing and revving car the only noticeable sounds. "Fine, I give you that one. But Blossom, be reasonable. It's been six months! I wasn't even with Brute for six weeks! Do you know what Anella said to me yesterday before I dropped her off with you?" Blossom waited. "She said her and Sofia hate that we're fighting, that I don't sleep in the same house as you girls anymore. She's cried herself to sleep many nights, especially when she's with me, because you're not there with us. I hate to see what she's like when I'm not there on holidays! Why don't you see this isn't just about us anymore?"

This argument, repeated hundreds of times in past months, had finally taken it's toll on her, and Blossom felt herself caving. "Butch . . ." But she held strong, for at least this conversation. "You're the only one that ruined our family, and I can't help Anella when you're the one that created this problem."

"Blossom . . ."

"If you really want the girls, you can have them for Thanksgiving." Her throat constricted, threatening to crack as tears built. "I'll have them ready at six for you to pick them up."

"That's not what I want-" But she stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Goodbye, Butch."

"Blossom, don't you dare hang up on-" which is exactly what she did.

With one click of the "end" button, their debate was finally over . . . But even then, Blossom couldn't breathe.

Why . . . Why can't I get past this?

Tears started to streak down her face, throat struggling to catch the sobs, only to fail painfully. Her body couldn't support itself, and she collapsed against the granite countertop as she cried into her hands, fingers tightening so much around the phone it threatened to snap.

"Mommy," Anella said from the door, staring up at her mother with those familiar jade green eyes, her father's eyes. "Mommy, why are you crying?"

At the sound of her daughter's voice, Blossom almost instantaneously composed herself, cutting all ties to any emotion relating to Butch . . . at least for a few minutes.

"I'm not crying, baby," she lied, wiping away the last of the evidence as she stepped around to kneel before her. "Guess what? Daddy's coming by later to come get you and Sofia! You're going to have dinner with him tonight, isn't that exciting?"

"Daddy's having dinner with us? Finally?"

Oh god . . . she does feel how long it's been . . . "Not us, sweetie, just you three. I'm going to have dinner with grandpa, uncle Boomer, and aunt Bubbles and Buttercup. But uncle Brick will be there. And I'm sure lots of daddy's friends are too, with kids your age. Andrew from daddy's job has a daughter that will be there. He's six years old too. You two will have lots of fun."

Her piercing green eyes started to cloud over, tears threatening to overflow down her milky cheeks. "But mommy, why can't I stay here? Daddy can sit in my chair, and I'll sit on his lap. Then he won't take up any space like you told aunt Bubbles he does."

Gosh, does this girl pick up everything I say? Can't she be denser sometimes, like her father was when we were this age? Why did she have to be so intuitive, and perceptive?

"Anella, it's complicated. Daddy and I are just having a little fight."

"You're always fighting."

"For now, but it will get better. You'll have lots of fun tonight, I promise." She planted a warm and tender kiss to her forehead. "Now, go help your sister get cleaned up and I'll make you two some lunch before we start getting ready to go see daddy. Okay?"

The tiny child grumbled, muttering something far too low under her breath for Blossom to pick up (even with super hearing) before complying, dragging her worn out brown teddy bear across the floor as she departed.

Now alone, and safely isolated with her thoughts, those magenta eyes darted to the phone still clutched in her fist. For just a moment, a brief moment, the idea of calling Butch back danced around in her head. Her pride was too much though, and she decided wholeheartedly against it.

God . . . what the hell am I going to do?


Six o'clock was quickly approaching, the dozen or so party guests now entirely present and gathering around the dinner table set for them. Blossom, sporting a sexy and sophisticated pink cocktail dress with midnight black pumps, set the last of the meal additions to the table, conversing with family and friends as they began to serve.

Sitting in chairs for the time being were little Anella, and two year old Sofia, whose pink eyes watched around with a look Blossom couldn't quite understand.

Is she looking at all the thanksgiving decorations . . . or is she looking for Butch?

As if on cue, the doorbell rang twice, silencing no one in this boisterous dinner setting. The only attention it seemed to grab, the two girls waiting eagerly for their father.

"Want me to get it?" Brick asked as he started to stand, eyes locked on his counterpart/sister-in-law. "Are you expecting someone else?"

"Uh . . . You could say that." Her tone betrayed her, and he instantly knew of what exactly she meant. "I'll get it."

His sympathetic look was all too apparent as he returned to his seat, and for a moment, Blossom didn't know if she appreciated it or was hurt by it. Setting the last plate in place, she wiped her delicate hands on the maroon apron tied securely to her waist, taking one last breath while still confident before striding quickly to the door.

"Who wants to bet now that she smacks him at least once before he walks out the door for the night?" Buttercup challenged in hushed whispers, leaning forward conspiratorially as she conversed.

"Buttercup!" the youngest Puff snapped, smacking her sister's arm disapprovingly. "Don't make money off our sister's pain. She's still hurting from the separation."

"We're all hurting, Bubs. We love Butch and Blossom, but a girl's gotta earn a living somewhere. Might as well make it off something that's a guarantee."

The blue Ruff contemplated the statement, before reaching into his wallet and throwing a twenty into the center of the white linen table. "Twenty bucks says she smacks him in the next two minutes, forget leaving the house."

"You're on, Rowdyruff."

Bubbles watched on, jaw dropped in utter awe as the sister and husband she thought she had known began placing bets, followed by the ones she thought she called family and friends. Brick remained silent, writing some note on the back of an unidentified business card before turning to watch the show, uttering not a word the entire time.

Staring back at her siblings, Bubbles scoffed at their deeds, saying with hurt dressing her voice, "This is so cruel. You have no idea how much this is just stepping all over Blossom's heart . . . I'll take your twenty bucks and raise you twenty that she kicks him between the legs at least once before he leaves this house."

"And you call us cruel, babe?"

All ignored the Ruff as they turned to watch the show, Blossom tense at the door . . .


Okay, you can do this, you can face him . . . It's just Butch, the cheating jerk you're so totally . . . totally still in love with. Oh stop it! You're not together anymore; stop thinking about him like that. You're going to be filing for divorce soon, you can't think of him like that anymore.

Did she believe a word she thought? Absolutely not. Did she need to believe it? Absolutely, for the sake of her sanity.

Her fingers curled around the door knob, and she met the familiar green eyes belonging to her still technically husband, much to her relief.

His short locks of silky black hair clung to his ivory face, now jet black from the rain just beyond the porch. Perhaps it was the weather, because in contrast, his eyes were a brilliant shade of green she had not seen since Sofia's birth. It was a look of relief, excitement, thrill, and outright love.

"Blossom," he murmured, voice giving away his absolute love and desire for her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she lied, stepping aside to allow him passage. "The girls are ready and bags are packed for the night."

Shuffling around, Butch watched as she went from the door to the coat closet, pulling out two character backpacks belonging to their daughters and a small suitcase with their necessities.

"I'll come by tomorrow evening to pick them up, since you didn't get the full Thanksgiving with them like you wanted. Next time we'll settle the arrangements for a holiday a little better, so you have the full day with them. But they have dance practice tomorrow afternoon for an hour, so you have to make sure they are there on time. The uniforms are in the suitcase, so you're set. And I packed Sofia's little doll, the one that looks like Mojo? I don't get why she likes it so much, but I can't pry the hideous thing from her for more then a few hours at a time, so if I didn't pack it she'd be wailing all night. I also packed a few pull-ups for Anella, because she's been having a bit of a problem with wetting her bed the past few nights. I don't particularly know why, but the doctor says it's normal for a child of her age or . . . or family situation. I'm tempted to get a second opinion on this doctor," she muttered the last part with a scowl.

"Blossom," Butch said, silenced by her continuous rant.

"Don't forget, they're not allowed sugar past nine, or they'll be hyper until the late morning. And if they're sleeping schedule gets shifted too much, I'm going to have to be the one that is staying up with them while they try to get it back on track."

"Blossom," he tried again, failing miserably.

"And don't let Sofia eat any chocolate, I think she's developing an intolerance to it because she's been having tummy troubles with that for awhile now. I'm sure you remember that part-"

His strong hands gripped her shoulders, bringing her gaze (which she so painfully tried to keep away) back to him as he murmured, "Blossom . . . They're my daughters too, I didn't step out of their lives just because we're fighting. I know how to take care of them." He ran a tender thumb across the bags under her eyes. "I could take care of you too if you let me. You look exhausted."

For the first time in a long time, she laughed, small and shy but a laugh nonetheless. "Single mothering was not something I planned on, and didn't train for exactly." She signed. "It's been hard."

"Then why do you act like you're so proud and keep this going? Why can't you just give me a second chance, us a second chance?" he stepped closer, voice dropping to something far too seductive and tantalizing for Blossom's heart to bear. "What is it going to take for you to see I've been trying as hard as I can to prove my devotion? Short of sacrificing myself in your name, I don't know what else I can do to show it to you. What is it really going to take to show you how much I love you, you and only you?"

Her heart raced as he caressed her cheek, face burning with desire and embarrassment at his words. Oh how she longs to forgive him, to allow him to return to his family, to make them one big, happy family again . . . But her heart couldn't take the pain of watching him mess it up again. What if he did?

"I . . ." Her voice cracked with the sobs threatening to escape. "I don't think I can handle it again if it doesn't work this time. I don't think the girls can either."

"This would be the last time, they won't even remember this when they get older, because it'll be like nothing ever happened." His face inched closer, body pressed to hers. "Blossom . . ."

Oh how she loved the way his voice caressed her name, making it sound like velvet. "Butch . . ."

Now mere inches apart, she felt herself beginning to cave again, and not for the first time today or this month. He had certainly been working her well, using that angelic voice and seductively he worked so well to lure her in, just as he had when they first started to date. It is what had gotten her to accept his proposal at nineteen.

His lips brushed softly against her ear, whispering her name a hundred times, each one deeper and huskier with love and desire.

"Can't you give me another chance? If not for us, then for our daughters . . . and let us work ourselves out slowly but surely? Do you really want to let seven years of marriage and two kids have been for nothing? Think of all we could gain, that we won't sacrifice . . . Please, baby."

Before she could utter a word, his strong arms encircled her without effort, and their mouths locked. At first, Blossom was shell shocked, staring at him wide eyed as she tried to process what was occurring. Eventually, as her body began to recollect the once familiar action, she lost herself in the kiss, and she found herself returning the favor.

God, I always knew he was the best kisser I'd ever met. Mmm, was he always this frisky with his kisses? I could certainly get used to that.

Ignoring the audience watching with little to no discreteness from the table just one room over (all leaning so far over to view the show that they threatened to topple to the ground) their kiss finally broke, both panting slightly and pale with lack of air.

"So?" he inquired voice hopeful . . . and a little breathless.

An agonizing moment of deliberation continued, though mostly for her to find the voice she had lost in the midst of her surprise. " . . . I suppose there's always the option of a grace period, but you're so in the dog house that you have a personalized chain."

His green eyes lit up all the more, humbly taking his punishment as he pulled her into a tight embrace, lifting her right off the ground. "Oh my god, baby . . . You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that."

"I love you," she replied simply, letting herself melt into his arms. "Welcome home . . ."


"Well be right back. The girls and I are going with Butch to get some ice cream for the desert, you guys dig in!" Blossom called from the door, calling her children to them with raincoats in hand.

The partiers watched as the Anella and Sofia scuttled to their parents, almost sensing the sudden change in the room before the announcement of reconciliation could be made. Hardly a moment passed before the front door clicked shut, and they were left alone.

"Wait, so . . . did they just get back together?"

All stared between Buttercup and the couple, Boomer finally confirming her suspicion. "So wait, who wins the money then? We all bet she'd fuck him up somehow, not forgive him."

"Not true," Brick began, turning around entirely in his seat and focusing on the pile of cash. "I bet she would forgive him."

"Bullshit, you did not," BC bit back, glaring as he collected his winnings.

Without a word, the Ruff reached into his wallet, pulling out the card he had scrawled his answer on but a few minutes prior. "See, now if I had said it out loud, everyone would know that I knew something . . . and I wouldn't have come out with as much as I had."

"Can he do that?" Bubbles remarked, turning hopeful that he was wrong to her husband and sister. "Can he not say an answer like that?"

"I can, for no one ever really did state that a bet had to be voiced. You never clarified that it was not to be written down." He victoriously held the card between two fingers, holding it up for all to see. "I gave in an answer, and it was right. I win hands down." Flicking the card across the table at his brother, who stared at the bet written with a scrutinizing eye, Brick let his arms stretch and rest behind his back as he basked in the victory. "Don't you just love being the best friend? You get all the juicy details before it even happens."

"Wait," the Professor interrupted, tearing his eyes away from the now empty front door and focused on his family around him. "So Blossom knew before he even got here that she would forgive him?"

A simple nod was all Brick offered at first. "That would be correct, sir. She ran her thoughts by me over coffee before you all got here. And she decided of her own free will she'd give Butch another chance. It was practically predestined before he stepped through that door."

"So that whole speech he just gave was for nothing?"

"Pretty much."

The Professor settled back in his chair, contemplating the thought a moment. "I swear I'll never understand this family."

Brick pat his shoulder, firm and comforting. "Don't try to, Professor . . . just embrace it and love it."


Hey everyone, thanks so much for reading! I know this one is late too, but I hadn't intended to make a oneshot for this holiday. But I'll be ending the holiday oneshots with my New Years one, and that will be it. (Aside from the few ones to be updated like St. Patrick, 4th of july, or some others ones i know I'm missing. I'll post a author's note whenever they're all in, so you can check them out. For now, here is Thanksgiving, and I'll be posting Christmas in just a few minutes.

See y'all at New Years! Merry Christmas everyone! :D