I don't own the Power Puff Girls or the Rowdy Ruff Boys.

Epilogue: Better

Buttercup opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror. The monk who had just cut her hair began sweeping the dark strands away. She sighed as she turned her head to inspect the job. Smooth, paler than the rest of her skin due to being hidden from the sun. There were also scars on her scalp from battles where monsters got a lucky strike and she didn't get the chance to treat them properly in time. If she thought about it, she could remember when, where, and what monster caused the injury.

The monk finished sweeping her hair and took another look at her head. He saw the scars while he was shaving her head. He even noticed the faint lines on her finger from where a wedding ring sat. It wasn't his place to judge, but he was young and new to the monkhood. "Excuse me, Buttercup but if I may, the circumstances may have been terrible on how you came to be here, but we are glad to have you."

Buttercup gave a nod as she set the mirror down. "The circumstances are of my own creation." She stood up and adjusted her new clothes given to her upon arrival. A fitted white tunic, loose linen pants, and a sari like wrap that went over her right shoulder. "Thank you nonetheless…"

"Tashi," the young monk supplied with a smile. Monk he was, he could still appreciate a rare beauty such as the green eyed raven haired girl.

"Tashi, sorry," Buttercup said as she reached to brush her hair from her face, only to remember that it was no longer there.

"It takes some getting used to. If you could imagine I have quite the head of hair." He teased. When Buttercup managed to smile, even if it was wane, Tashi felt pride in the small accomplishment. "Now, how about we finish getting you settled in for the evening?"

"I'd like that."

There wasn't much for Buttercup to do as far as settling in. All she'd really packed with her were clothes, a box of tampons, and her favorite soap. Everything else she left behind, including her wedding ring. Thinking about her ring made her automatically think of Butch. She'd taken it off in front of him, and considering how they were, he probably thought she wanted to end things with him. She didn't. Wouldn't. Couldn't. Besides if anyone was more in the right to end things it would be Butch. She'd put him through literal hell. The Spice Puff had come to visit with her master to recenter herself. She wanted to be better, not just for Butch but for herself. She'd stay for as long as she took to be someone worth Butch's love.

Later that evening when she lay on her futon in her room, she thought about how Butch was taking her absence. She told him where she was going, but she wasn't sure if he believed her or not. Her husband probably thought she was trying to get him to chase her. For once, she wasn't trying to get a reaction out of him. Buttercup had to do this for herself. She made a mess of things back home, and getting herself in order was just the first step. Then she'd go back and apologize to everyone.

Closing her eyes she tried to find a comfortable spot so she could get a little rest. From what she remembered her days started early at the temple. Building a schedule built discipline, and she needed the emotional discipline now.

Butch sat on the couch staring at his phone screen. He'd written out and deleted many variations of a message he wanted to send, but couldn't. As much as he wanted to message Buttercup and ask her how she was doing, he didn't want to seem like he was waiting around for her. He wasn't per se, but he wasn't exactly doing much outside of his community service and job either. The green Ruff set his phone down and leaned his head back, trying to find a sense of what was going on in his relationship with Spice Puff.

In his pondering, he'd closed his eyes and leaned his head back. About five minutes of relative peace were all Butch gained before he felt a warm weight settle into his lap. Opening his eyes, he saw Coal placed in his lap, his red eyes bright as he sucked on his pacifier. The mini Red Ruff tilted his head back and made a curious noise as he brought his spiky head back down to look at his uncle.

"Are you making him pee on me?"

Brick snorted out a laugh and placed his son more onto Butch's lap, forcing him to take him. "If I was, he'd be naked. I am using one of my Butch babysits vouchers."

"What?" Butch rearranged Coal on his lap. His nephew took interest in his uncle's fingers as he squeezed and twisted them around, testing his strength. "Where are you going?"

"Blossom and I are going to scope out a new apartment."

"Why aren't you taking him with you?" Butch asked, feeling Coal dig his nails into his hand. Butch then tugged on his cheek, much to Coal's irritation. He dropped his pacifier and pulled Butch's hand to his mouth. His two baby teeth at the bottom of his mouth cut into Butch's palm and he yanked his hand away.

Brick chuckled at Coal's play and folded his arms. "Because I'm taking Blossom out after."

The shot of pain that shot through Butch at his brother doing a couple of things with his girlfriend. "Right."

Seeing the change in his brother, Brick sighed and moved to sit beside him. "Look, you made your choice. Buttercup made hers."

"You don't need to tell me that," Butch snapped. "I'm standing by it, but fuck if it isn't hard." Especially when I can hear you all having sex. No matter how quiet they were, Butch heard them due to his super hearing. It made him jealous that his brothers had their girls, and it reminded him that he had to take care of his sexual frustrations himself.

"Good. Don't give in to her." When all he received was an unimpressed look, he sighed. "I'm not saying this because I don't like her. I'm saying this because you're my brother and her actions put us all in danger."

"I know that too," Butch grumbled. "H.I.M nearly took over my body, remember?"

"And I know what that's like." Brick said seriously. "I never wanted you or Boomer to experience anything like that. I'm angrier that she claimed to love you and pushed you to that."

Coal blew a raspberry and pulled on Butch's hand again as he thought about Buttercup. "Are you leaving or what?"

Butch was deflecting and Brick knew there wasn't going to be getting through to him now. "Yeah." He leaned over to place a kiss on his son's head. "Be good Fireball."

Coal smiled in what could only be considered Rowdy Ruff fashion. Brick smiled warmly at his boy and turned to his sullen brother. "See you guys later."

Butch gave a small salute of a wave and watched as Brick left. Coal looked between the door where his Daddy left and his uncle. He then cooed again and started babbling to his uncle. Butch rose a brow at him when he paused and looked to him expectedly. "What? Do you have an opinion too?"

His nephew babbled as he twisted Butch's fingers in his hands.

"Yeah? Is that what you think?" Butch said humoring his nephew. "Everyone has an opinion. Just so you know, opinions are like assholes. Everyone has them, but some stink. Others more than most."

Coal seemed to grunt an agreement while he entertained himself. Butch sighed and leaned his head back before rearranging his nephew in his lap. He then reached for the remote and turned the television on. No sooner had he settled for a relatively baby friendly show-a mecha anime with just enough bright colors for Coal and explosions for Butch-his phone buzzed. Thinking it was Buttercup, he rushed to see what the notification was. He physically drooped when he saw that it wasn't his wife.

"Forget your wallet?" he asked as he answered his brother's call.

"Forgot to warn you that his fire powers are manifesting in sparks. His diapers are fireproof, so you shouldn't worry if he gets gas and it goes down. If it comes up, keep your hair and anything else flammable out the way."

Butch glanced at his nephew and rose a brow. "He farts fire?"

"And makes flames bigger, so don't like a match near him." Brick said before he ended the call.

Butch looked at his phone a while longer before tossing it aside on the couch. "Word of advice, don't fall in love with a girl that drives you crazy. You'll love her and want to hate her at the same time, but can't because you love her. That's what your aunt does to me, but that's why she's in Tibet."

Coal hummed as he listened, but didn't exactly understand. In his infant mind, he just found it strange that he didn't see his black haired mommy. He missed her, but he figured black haired daddy missed her more. Settling against his uncle, he watched television and thought about what it'll be like when he gets bigger. Hopefully, when he got bigger things would stay as simple as they were now.

Hello, my lovelies. Thank you for reading Growing Up is Hard, and don't despair this isn't the end. There's still more to tell. Always is, and now we have a new generation to explore. Join Coal and maybe a few others as he decides to be more Ruff or more Puff.

In the meantime, I'll be continuing my original Rockstar available to read on Wattpad and FictionPress, links in the bio. I also have a secret fanfiction in the works with a co-writer that will be available on fanfiction and Wattpad.

Thank you all for your never ending support and patience. I really couldn't have gotten this far without my first fans here. See you again in the Coal Chronicles.