8. Awkward Moments

It was strangely quite in the car on the way home. Blossom had spent most of the journey staring out the window. She was distracted by what was waiting at home. Bubble's performance in the afternoon had not filled her with confidence. What would she do if it was Bo…

She was jerked back into the real world by the front of the car nearly being taken off by another car at a junction. She glanced over at Eddy, who gave a weak smile before continuing.

"You alright?" she asked.

"Fine, fine." He didn't sound it

"It's just you didn't start swearing at the other driver back there."

"Err, oh yes, bloody idiot," Eddy said without passion.

"Humm."

"You alright," Eddy turned the question round. Blossom paused.

"A bit nervous."

"What about?"

"Meeting Bubble's fiancé. It could be awkward."

"I'm not that bad at meeting people. Except the time I thought the kid's headmistress was a secretary, but that was a one off!"

"I was talking about me."

"Oh. But you're good with new people."

"I think I already know him," Blossom sighed.

"You know a Bouffons? I don't, I'd remember that name." Eddy's tone suddenly changed, "wait, this isn't another one of your ex's, because one who you STILL miss is just about as much as I can cope with!"

"No! It's… oh never mind, by the time I explain we'll be there.

Soon enough, they drew up at home. There visitors were already there. Blossom glanced over, and despite having had a hole evening to prepare herself, her heart still plummeted though her boots. Eddy clicked.

"Oh," he said. "Well, happy faces darling, you know, like when we visit my parents."

They got out. The others headed over.

"Hi Blossom, Eddy," Bubbles said nervously, "umm, I think you know Boomer."

"Hi," Boomer said. He was clearly trying his best to look natural, but was staring at Blossom, who flinched badly.

"Alright," said Buttercup shivering. "Let's get inside it's freezing out here!"

"Okay, we can have a cup of coffee or a drink of something," Blossom said nervously.

"Spiffing!" Boomer chirped, completely unnaturally. Blossom shuddered again, and unlocked the door. Bubbles put her arm round Boomer, but Butch still found space to give him a sharp kick.

They hadn't been in for long when Blossom excused herself. And despite all that had happened, it took Eddy half an hour to realise that it was a rather long toilet break.

Eddy knocked on the bathroom door.

"You alright Bloss?" the reply was a long time coming.

"Yes"

"You've just been in there for a long time, not constipated?"

"No"

"Oh." Eddy waited. After a while, he pushed the door open slightly, and when Blossom didn't protest, he opened it fully and went in.

Blossom was stat on the floor, her back against the wall. Her hair was in a heap around her and her eyes were redder then ever. She looked about twenty five years younger than she was, and she didn't focus on Eddy when he came in.

"I'm fine," she croaked. Eddy sat down beside her.

"It's not your fault you know." He fiddled slightly with Blossom's hair. "Boomer was going to be upset. He'll come round, just like Butch did."

"That could take years, and Boomer's different." Blossom sighed. "He cares more than Butch. And the worst thing is that he still hates me for something I didn't do."

Eddy waited for a moment, before taking a deep breath and speaking;

"You could tell him the truth." Blossom looked up in horror, and then though about it.

"You think I could trust him?"

"Sure!"

"Well… I need to think. I need some fresh air." She stood up. "I'll be in the garden."

"Great" said Eddy, he gave her a quick hug. "Close the door on the way out."

Butch dragged Boomer into the Kitchen and closed the door.

"You're doing a great job!" he said angrily. "Do you want to make Bubbles chose between you and Blossom, because the odds aren't good!"

"She seems happy enough."

"That's because she's been drinking non stop since she arrived!" Butch sighed. "I tried to make Buttercup make the choice and I lost! She cancelled the wedding until I submitted!"

Boomer suddenly turned on him, flashing with anger;

"And you submitted your soul to her! She killed Brick for God's sake! Does that mean nothing to you?"

Butch said nothing, but he didn't drop eye contact. This caught Boomer off guard, and his anger died.

"I miss him," he whispered.

"I know. Get some fresh air, and think of Bubbles. Then come back and try again. Alright bro?"

Boomer nodded. He glanced around, and then seeing no one was around, gave his brother a quick hug. Then he left.

Butch tuted to himself, before randomly flipping a coin in the air. He missed it on the way down and it bounced on the kitchen side before rolling away under the microwave. Annoyed, Butch stuck his hand underneath it to find the coin, but instead pulled out a letter…

It was cool outside in the garden. The star filled sky glittered over head, as below, Blossom tried to come to a decision. Could she really tell Boomer the truth? Would he even believe her?

There was a crack behind her. She swung round, and jumped.

"Hel..lo Boomer" she tried to sound happy. Boomer tried equally hard.

"Hello… Blossom. Errr, what a nice evening. Not quite as nice as the ones in Spain," he prattled on, trying so make small talk, "…and the owls would hoot etc… err,"

"We ermm, sometimes get owls round here," Blossom was happy to continue with it, "if we stay really quite, we might here one."

"Good idea." They sat in silence for a while, grateful for the break.

Having finished upstairs, Eddy returned to the gathering inside. His attempts to do so quietly were ruined by the squeaky floor board that always caught out Edward and MJ.

"HEY, SKINFLINT," Buttercup shouted, gurgling slightly drunkenly, "get us another round of drinks here."

Why are they drinking so much, Eddy wondered. It wasn't as if they were stresses. He went into the kitchen to get himself one, trying to ignore his sisters-in-law. Opening the door, he walked straight into a mortgage letter. Butch was holding it up to him, and to Eddy's abject horror, he had a smile on his face.

Twit terwoo

"There's one," Blossom whispered. Boomer nodded, before glancing at his watch.

"Ooo, I better be going back inside. Okay?"

"Yep," said Blossom, semi-relived, "Okay?"

"No actually," Boomer said suddenly. "I'm… oh, never mind." He started to slump back to the house. Blossom watched.

"Wait," she said, resigned to her fate. "You better spit it out. For Bubbles' sake."

Boomer paused. He turned round, and Blossom could swear he was nearly crying.

"Why?" he said simply. "I… I saw you two together. You were perfect. He loved you and… and you loved him." He swallowed. "And then… how … how could you kill him? I just want to know what was going through your mind, to…. to..." he trailed off. Then he looked once more at Blossom before turning his back.

"Boomer," Blossom said heavily, "I… I… I'm glad you were honest?" she tired. No response. She took a deep breath and then made the stab in the dark.

"I didn't." Boomer turned round.

"What?"

"I didn't. I couldn't. I did something much worse."

"What would be worse then killing him?" Boomer asked. Blossom shuddered.

"Watching him die," she said….