I do not own the Power Puff Girls or the Rowdy Ruff Boys.

Chapter Six: And So Another Year Begins

The morning was just beginning to break when Brick started to stir. Taking in a deep breath, he pressed his face into Blossom's hair and exhaled heavily. The warm breath roused Blossom a bit, before she snuggled deeper into the blankets. The two were lying in their large king-sized bed with Brick spooned against Blossom. One hand was cradled under his head, while the other was draped over Blossom's belly. As Brick woke up further, he tightened his hold on Blossom as she sighed. When he finally opened his eyes, it was to the slow rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathed in her sleep. Her hair that was in a bun from her bath was in a disarray from their tumble between the sheets last night.

Other parts of Brick began to wake as he remembered those moments, and that he and Blossom were still naked under the covers. With a slow stroke over her belly, he trailed his hand down to between her legs and gently began to stroke while he ground his morning erection against her ass. "Blossom," he whispered huskily into her ear.

Her response was a low groan and the slight arching of her back. Doing this gave Brick more access to her center and using his fire power warmed his fingers as they stroked her in slow circles.

"Come on Cherry, wake up." He continued.

Blossom's body roused awake faster than her mind did. Her breathing changed and her drowsy grumbling turned to breathy moans. "Brick?"

With a smile on his lips, Brick slipped two of his fingers into her core and stroked her gently. Blossom moaned and gasped. "Awake now, Blossom?"

"Hmmm." She sighed as her eyes opened and she turned to look over her shoulder at Brick. He met her turned face with a sensual kiss to her lips. "What time is it?"

"Six seventeen." Brick answered as he shifted his body so that he was able to push up Blossom's leg and position himself where his fingers currently occupied.

"What? We have our first class at nine." Blossom said as she struggled to get up.

Brick held her back down and rubbed himself against her. "Yes, nine. It's barely a quarter after six, so…we have more than enough time to…" The tip of his cock prodded and inserted itself into her folds.

Blossom gasped and opened her legs unconsciously wider to accommodate Brick. "But…I need…Oh god." Brick had inserted himself fully into her and did a few small thrusts. "Condom…shower."

"Are we having the condom talk again? You can't tell me that you don't like the feeling of being raw." Brick said as he slowly pulled out and pushed back into her. He then sighed and relished the feel of her wet soft skin against his hard flesh. "Doesn't that feel good?" he then kissed the side of her neck when he knew she liked it.

Closing her eyes and enjoying a few brief moments of bliss, Blossom struggled to find the resolve to plead her case. Again. "Brick., we're going…please I can't think…while you do that." She said when Brick resumed his thrusting motion.

"My point…exactly." Brick murmured with the restraint from holding back, humoring her as she tried to talk. "Can we talk about this…after?"

Blossom turned to look at Brick and couldn't hold back the scowl at his smug expression. "You son of a bitch." She gasped when Brick thrust into her with more force. "We…better not be late."

Brick's smug grin grew before he kissed Blossom and started up a steady pace that had Blossom gripping the pillow with one hand and gripping the back of Brick's thigh with the other. Brick's own hands were occupied with holding onto Blossom's thigh and stroking her breast. When his hand on her thigh moved upward, he stroked her belly briefly before reaching lower to stroke her clitoris. Blossom's grip tightened on his thigh, digging her nails into his skin. Her touch also grew hot and the feeling of the sudden heat turned Brick on more.

"Oh, fucking right, man!" Brick groaned as he shifted his body to gain more leverage and thrust harder into Blossom.

Her moans turned to gasps as she burned hotter the closer she got to her climax. "Brick!"

The sound of Blossom calling his name spurred him on to reach that finish they both needed. Brick's own body was heating and when combined with Blossom's would've made the room a sweltering sauna, if the windows had not been opened the previous night. When their mutual climax hit, the two clung tightly to one another. Brick's arm gripped her tight under her breast while Blossom's nails made deep red scratches into his thigh. As they relaxed, Brick pulled out of Blossom and couldn't help but notice the mess he'd left behind.

His seed shined on her inner thighs and it just served to boost his ego. His hand reached and smeared it into across her skin. "You know, there's something almost hot about seeing your thighs covered in my cum."

Blossom's brow furrowed over her closed eyes. "Is that why you insist on not wearing a condom?" She asked before sitting up, grimacing at the wet squish between her legs. "I'm going to go take a shower."

Brick watched as she watched naked to the bathroom, before getting up and following after her. Before he could enter, Blossom turned and closed the door in his face. "Alone."

To finalize her point, she locked the door behind her and started up the shower. Brick laughed as he turned from the bathroom and went to the closet to grab some clothes for the day. When he glanced in the mirror, he noticed that there were five distinct slightly bleeding scratches on his thigh. The sight of them made Brick smirk as he began dressing himself. After dressing in a plain red shirt with faded blue jeans, he pulled his hair back into a tail, glad that he was able to do that again. It was only a year ago that his hair was down his back and he was excited to be started school like any other nerd—as Blossom teasingly dubbed him. Now a year later, his hair just past his shoulders and he was excited about started school.

The sound of the shower cut off after fifteen minutes. When his girlfriend didn't reveal herself, Brick walked to the door and knocked. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Then come out."

"Trying to prevent dry skin and stretch marks." She called through the door.

Brick was now beginning to understand his brothers' frustration when he holed up in the bathroom. A lot of his time was spent on his hair as he washed and conditioned it. His hair was his pride, and he went to great lengths to make sure it looked nice. He then smiled as he thought about how his son would have great hair.

The bathroom door opened and out came Blossom in a large towel that barely reached her thighs due to her belly. She was surprised to see Brick already dressed and ready. "You're not taking a shower?"

"I thought you were worried about us being late. This saves us time." Brick smirked at her as he watched her make her way to the dresser to pull out a bra and underwear.

"I am, but that doesn't mean you should arrive the first day smelling like leftover sex from last night and this morning." She griped while dropping the towel and stepping into her panties. After she fastened her bra, she walked to the closet and stared at her clothes. "Crap."

"What is it?"

Blossom ran a hand over her clothes and flicked through a few items with a grimace. "All my clothes are going to make me look pregnant."

Brick not understanding what the issue was shrugged, unseen by Blossom. "But you are pregnant."

Rolling her eyes, she turned to Brick and folded her arms. "There's a different between being pregnant and looking pregnant. I don't want to look pregnant."

"How can you not look pregnant?" he asked while eying her six and a half month belly, before a smile came over his face. "Besides, I think you look great."

"You're biased," she grumbled as she turned back around and pulled out a few things and sighed frustrated when none seemed to appeal to her. "Either way, I don't want to look pregnant."

Brick watched as she pulled a few more things out, before grabbing a pale pink spaghetti strap dress that normally would fall to just below her knees. When she slipped it on, it fell to just above due to her belly and seemed to highlight the fact that she was pregnant, making her groan aloud—this preventing Brick from telling her she looked good. Her baby bump was no more pronounced or hidden than in any other outfit. He couldn't see why she was fretting over this so much. Sitting on the bed, Brick glanced at the clock and saw that it was seven fifteen.

"Blossom what time did you want to meet Bubbles?" he asked.

"Seven forty-five, why?"

"Because it's seven fifteen. Seven sixteen." He said when the time changed.

"Damn it." Blossom looked in the mirror and ran her hands over her face in frustration. She then looked for a jacket and wound up grabbing the first jacket and pair of shoes that she could get her hands on. The jacket she threw on was one of Brick's, a black denim jacket that was worn and almost covered her hands, while the shoes were a pair of white Converse that she'd sparingly wore, save for just running errands. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and grimaced a bit before turning away and grabbing her satchel. Brick wisely remained quiet as they left their apartment and made their way to his car. He helped her into the car before getting in himself and starting the engine. Blossom looked out the window while having her head propped in her hand.

Unable to bear her silent brooding after what he thought was a great morning, he reached over and gave her thigh a squeeze. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she questioned with a bit of ice in her voice. When Brick's hand didn't leave her skin, she sighed and rubbed agitatedly at her forehead. "It's just the first day of us going to college."

Brick glanced at her and with a raised brow. "Okay?"

"Okay, and you're not going to be scrutinized for being the good girl that rolled around with the bad boy and got knocked up!" she suddenly snapped at him.

"Whoa! What happened between us having great sex this morning to…this?" he was completely blindsided, and if he was being honest a bit pissed. "Also we both know that this wasn't what everyone is going to think it is."

"I know, but…"

"But?"

As Brick turned onto the campus parking lot, Blossom bit her lip as she thought about the best way to say what she needed without bringing up the Power Puff Rowdy Ruff history. "I'm…I'm just worried about what everyone will say."

"Fuck them." The immediate answer was filled with heat as Brick pulled into a vacant parking space. AS she shut off the car, he turned to Blossom with glaring red eyes. "Who cares what they're going to think? We know what happened and that's all that matters."

"I guess."

"No, don't guess." Brick then reached over and cupped her cheek with his hand. He then gently coaxed her into looking at him, pressing a kiss to her lips when she did. "The only thing that matters in the grand scheme of all of this is that we love this little fireball. Fuck everyone else and what they think!"

If Blossom were not looking into Brick's eyes, she'd have doubted what he was saying. However, as she was, she could see the fire of his conviction along with the love he had for both her and their son. It made her feel better knowing that he felt so strongly about them and was strong enough to brush off a few harsh words. At least when they didn't come from Mojo, but she'd broach that at another time. "I love you, Brick."

"I love you too, Cherry. Now let's go meet your sister." Brick said as he got out of the car. He waited for Blossom, before noticing her struggle a bit to get out. When he went to help her, he couldn't fully keep the smile of mirth off his face.

Blossom glowered at him with a huff once she was finally out and standing in front of him. "This is why we need a new car."

Brick kissed her forehead as closed and locked up his car. "As long as it's red."

"Of course, unless you want pink."

"No."

Hey Sleepyhead. Text me when you wake up. I'll call when I get out of classes.

Bubbles set her phone down as she mixed a second packet of sugar into her coffee, while she waited for Blossom and Brick to show up. She was a bit nervous about starting classes and didn't want to start the morning floundering about by herself. She didn't really think about it before now, but this would be the first time she'd be on her own in a sense. Usually she was with her sisters or with Boomer, but now… It was daunting to think about.

She glanced at her phone and sighed as she thought about her boyfriend, who as of late has been uncharacteristically grumpy. When he mentioned that he was frustrated—sexually and emotionally—all she could think back of was their failed attempt, with him all of a sudden about to do something she was in no way prepared for. There was that and then Butch's sudden call in the middle of their about to have sex. The latter was minor when compared to their former. Even thinking about it now brought a flush of embarrassed heat to her face. She'd tried to pretend that it wasn't a big deal, but she choked at Tabitha's words while at the restaurant, and Boomer had gotten angry thinking she talked about it with her friends.

Then there was him being weird when she said the sex was nice. It was nice, at least she thought it was. Maybe that was why he decided to go down on her. This is what made Bubbles confused. Boomer had never mentioned a want to do…that or indicated that he might have wanted that to happen. If he wanted to put his mouth on her, would he expect her to do the same? Again her face heated, this time it was so much that her ears were tinted pink under her hair.

When she looked up, she saw that Brick and Blossom had entered. She smiled wildly as she waved.

"Blossom, hey!"

"Hey Bubbles." She met her sister with a hug before sitting down. Brick went ahead to the counter to go get drinks. "Ready for classes?"

"Yeah, I think?" she said it as a question. She spun her stirrer around in her drink. "I'm kind of worried about Boomer."

"Why?"

Bubbles bit her lip and wondered if she should even say anything to her sister about the weirdness that's been happening. Also, she figured it had to be something a bit more personal going on. He mentioned being sexually frustrated, and she could understand that, but it still didn't account for all his agitation. "He's just been…not himself lately."

Blossom thought back to the overheard conversation at the restaurant between the two blues. If their continued awkwardness was about that disastrous night where they'd cracked the ceiling, then Blossom wasn't sure what to say. Out of all of them Bubbles and Boomer had the easiest relationship. "Have you tried talking to him?"

Bubbles shrugged as she looked into her latte. "Not really."

"Bubbles, if something's bugging Boomer, just give him time." Blossom said neutrally. She couldn't let it be known that knew what was wrong.

"Yeah, I guess. He'll have plenty of that while I'm here." Bubbles sighed.

At the moment, Brick came back with two cups; one with black coffee for him, the other with an iced chai. "No, double caramel cinnamon bun crunchie frappe?"

"He wouldn't stop kicking for three hours after you had it the last time, and he kicked me." Brick told her.

Bubbles looked between them with a raised brow. "The baby kicked you?"

"In the ribs." Brick said. "So what's eating—ow!" Brick looked to Blossom, who was forcibly not looking in his direction.

"Bubbles, we both have a window between one and two, right? Let's have lunch at the school bar. They said it's a freshman tradition to have the Molten Fire Chili Fries."

Bubbles' smile was small and appreciative of her sister's not so subtle deflection. "Yeah, so long as they have pickles to put on them."

"Ugh. Pickles on chili fries? I can understand Blossom, but you Bubbles?" Brick shuddered.

"You and Butch forced me to eat a cockroach when we were five remember?" she pointed out with a laugh.

Brick shook his head. "We made Boomer eat a cockroach when we were five." He then smiled, before catching the dimming on Bubbles' face at the mention of Boomer. He sighed knowing he'd had to talk some sense into his brother sooner rather than later, but for now decided to drop a nugget of insight for his brother's girlfriend. "The first time we got him to eat one, he was convinced that he wouldn't like it before we told him it was like chicken."

Blues eyes met red and Bubbles got the unspoken message. Her anger showed in the crushing of the stirrer in her hands to splinters, thus ruining her drink as the bits fell in. She should've known that his brothers said something to him to make him act how he was. They did the same thing when the two of them first began dating; trying to convince them that what they were feeling wasn't real. The difference this time was about how they had sex. Her face burned with righteous indignation and suddenly all those vanilla quips made a lot more sense.

"You and Butch are such assholes." Bubbles said as she stood up, taking her ruined coffee with her.

Blossom watched her go with a furrowed brow. "Bubbles, where are you going?"

"Class. Don't want to be late." She left it at that as she walked out of the campus café.

Blossom watched her sister go, before turning to Brick. He was looking after Bubbles with a strange combination of shock and acceptance. When he turned back to his coffee, he noticed, Blossom's intense stare on him. "What?"

"You and Butch did something, didn't you?" Blossom accused.

There was no point in denying it. "Butch brought it up first, and that's all I'm going to say."

"What did you guys say to him now?" Blossom sighed.

"It was Butch, I promise."

Blossom narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you saying you had nothing to do with this?"

He did a one shoulder shrug that informed Blossom that he wasn't as guiltless as he made himself seem.

Blossom shook her head as she took a healthy sip from her drink, before frowning and turning to Brick. "Are you sure I can't have that frappe?"

"You didn't have enough of a pick me up this morning?" Brick said heatedly before leaning close enough to snort a breath of steam into Blossom's face, effectively melting the ice in her drink.

Ice radiated from Blossom's hand, freezing her drink. "I can't decide if your sympathy symptoms are a good thing or a bad thing."

"Sympathy symptoms?"

"You have just as many mood swings as I do, if not more." She commented. "But besides that, it's your and Butch's fault Bubbles and Boomer are fighting right now."

"Can it even be categorized as a fight?" When Blossom leveled him with an unimpressed look, he sighed. "He's just embarrassed and a little horny right now. He'll feel better once he has sex."

"Sex doesn't solve everything. Ask our married siblings about that; their relationship is eight-five percent sex." Blossom said before frowning and thinking about how distressed Buttercup sounded when she last spoke to her. Yes, she was still a bit pissed about what she thoughtlessly said, but she could tell her sister was hurting. "Do you think those two will be all right?"

At that, Brick wasn't sure of what how to answer that. He hadn't had time to really worry about his rebellious brother's relationship. If anything, he was more concerned with what Mojo and the professor would do to them once they found out. He could only hope Mojo didn't have a heart attack strong enough to kill him.

Bubbles was fuming as she marched across campus to her fist class. Figures that Boomer's odd behavior would have something to do with his brothers. They were always finding ways to pick on him. She too experienced some teasing from her sisters, but thankfully they grew out of it. Unfortunately, boys took a little while longer to grow up, and apparently never learned. This was the second time that they've said something to Boomer, and he's questioned himself in their relationship. It was annoying, as it caused unnecessary strife.

As much as she wanted to talk to Boomer about not listening to his asshole brothers, she had to get to her class. It was an intro to veterinary sciences, held in the science building. Walking in, she was greeted to a map with notes of where different animals were discovered. She slowed her angry pace to stare in wonder, not watching where she was going. It wasn't until she bumped into someone that she came back to reality.

"Hey!" the guy exclaimed.

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." Bubbles gasped as she looked over the guy with messy curls for hair, brown puppy dog eyes.

"It's fine. Just…" his words trailed off as he scrutinized her face, before his eyes widened. "Bubbles?"

"Yes?" she said uncertainly. "Do I know you?"

The guy blushed a deep red and rubbed the bag of his neck in a way that was vaguely familiar to her. "I'd say ouch, if I wasn't expecting that." He laughed. "Umm, I went to Townsville Academy High. We had physics together junior year, and English and geometry sophomore year."

Bubbles continued to stare at him, waiting for some memory of the guy before her to come to, but it seemed to allude her. "I'm sorry, I don't…"

"You mean to tell me you forgot about the mousetrap project. I got my fingers caught at least twenty times while putting it together. On the day we had to present—."

"I got my fingers caught, but it broke." She gasped. "Jamie? Oh wow. Hi." She stepped forward to give him a hug. When she stepped back, she noticed how much different he looked from just two years ago.

"What?" he asked self-consciously, his cheeks flooding with color.

Bubbles shook her head and let out a laugh. "Nothing, just you're a lot less lanky and adorably awkward, and more bookishly cute."

Her words deepened the red blush that was already staining his cheeks. "Thanks, I guess. I hit a late growth spurt." He stammered. "I didn't see you much this past year. I heard you changed schools."

"Yeah, my sisters and I went to Pokey Oaks High for senior year." She explained before she heard the campus clock ring signaled that it was now eight o'clock and that she should already be in class. "Oh shoot, I'm late."

"Me too. I'll see you around Bubbles." She flashed him a smile and made her way past him. When he turned around, he noticed that the they were going in the same direction. "Umm, Bubbles?

"Yeah?" She turned slowing her pace just a bit.

"What class are you going to?"

"Intro to Veterinary Sciences."

Jamie then pulled out his schedule and looked at the professor he'd chosen. "Is it with Professor Leatherman?"

Bubbles brow furrowed as she came to a stop and faced him. "Yeah?"

A smile that revealed dimples in his cheeks made broke across his face. "Looks like we'll be classmates again." He said while walking to catch up with her.

Bubbles looked up at him in shock, before letting a smile grace her face. "Yeah, looks like. I hope your fingers don't get caught in any mouse traps this time."

The two shared a laugh as they walked toward the lecture hall together.

Boomer woke up to the curtains being thrown open in his room, shining the bright light in his super sensitive eyes and the blanket being yanked off his nearly naked underwear clad body.

"All right, get up." Mojo said as he watched his youngest son moan and groan as he tried to shield himself from the offending light.

"What is so important that you have to wake me up at—."

"It's eleven thirty." Mojo cut him off. "You're not going to sleep the day away."

One tired, yet blazing blue eye peeked out from under the pillow and bed hair. "And what do you want me to do on the first day that everyone is busy?"

"Today, you're going to go out grocery shopping with me." Mojo declared.

Boomer leaned up on his elbows and stared incredulously at Mojo. "You woke me up, just so you could go grocery shopping?"

"The elevator is broken and unlike you and your brothers, I can't fly down." Mojo said. "Also, when we get back, you're going to help me fix it."

Boomer ran his hands over his face and hair and groaned in frustration. "Fine, just give me a chance to shower first."

Mojo grunted and made to leave the room, but not before he tripped over a half full laundry basket just barely out of the way. "And be sure to clean your room at some point too."

Boomer just glared as Mojo left, leaving his door wide open. Pressing his face into his pillow, he groaned once again before finding the will to get up. Once he did, he lumbered toward the bathroom, making a point to slam the door. Once there, he turned the water on making it as hot as it could go and leaned against the sink counter while it warmed up. He turned around to look at himself in the mirror and chuckled slightly amused at how bedraggled he looked.

"You look like a golden retriever puppy." Bubbles once told him lovingly when he spent the night at her house over the summer. His hair a mess just as it was then if not more since it has grown out a bit. He also hadn't shaved as often and had light scruff on his face. Bubbles didn't mind the stubble, but she personally liked him smooth on his face.

Thinking of Bubbles had Boomer thinking of last night, when he just peacefully slept beside her with their arms wrapped around one another. It was calming to just let her silently soothe him as she did, breathing in her sweet smell and holding her soft body against his own. Even though they didn't have sex, there was still a certain intimacy between them. That's not to say he didn't want the sex, but he felt closer to Bubbles in that moment because of it.

With the steam beginning to fog up the room, Boomer stripped his boxers off and stepped into the shower. With skin as thick and impervious to heat, the slight sting warmed his body up and slowly made him more awake than he was moments ago. With his eyes closed he ran his hands over his body, dragging water along with him, making sure his entire body was wet before he decided to grab the soap a actually bathe. As he did so, his hand brushed against his morning wood, and he inhaled sharply at the stirring pleasure. Opening his eyes, he stared down at himself as indecision came over him. It was easily overcome by need as his right hand wrapped around himself and he started to rub himself in long slow strokes. He couldn't remember the last time he masturbated since he started dating Bubbles, so the sensation of touching himself felt a bit mundane. It was nothing like how when Bubbles would touch him. Her soft, smaller hand that was a bit tentative before she just took it in her hand and started with slow pulls on him. She was so mindful of her super strength until Boomer reminded her that he was just as strong if not strong than her. Boomer closed his eyes and braced his free hand against the tile as he squeezed himself tighter, just like Bubbles would and increased the speed of which he was touching himself.

Pleasure ran down his nerves, but it was still pale in comparison to what he knew he could feel when with Bubbles. Releasing himself, he reached for his bodywash and poured a generous amount into his palm before reaching for his cock again. With the lubrication of the body wash, his hand glided over him smoothly, giving him a weak impression of how it felt to be inside Bubbles. What really killed what little illusion there was, was the slight chill to the body wash. Being inside Bubbles was warmer. A lot warmer.

More to have the release just to have it rather than for the pleasure, he hastened the pace of his strokes ignoring how loud the slapping of his hand against his skin echoed in the shower. He braced his hand against the tile way, practically slamming it and cracked the tile. He'd worry about the teasing his asshole brother would do later; for now, he'd focus on going over the edge. His hand worked furiously, holding himself tighter and stroking harder and faster. When his orgasm did come, his hand accidently went through the wall of the shower, crushing the tile and just barely missing the piping.

Breathing heavily, Boomer looked down at himself and groaned a bit in disgust at how thick his release was, despite the running shower washing it away. Bringing, his other hand out the wall, he ran both hands under the water until there was no more semen or tile chips. After that he began bathing, hoping he was quick enough for Mojo to not question him about it. The last thing he needed was for his dad to make assumptions.

After quickly washing off and then getting dressed, wearing grey blue jeans and a shirt that said Sonic Boom—a love joke from Bubbles on his birthday—he met Mojo downstairs who was wearing his typical blue suit with a white belt and helmet. He'd forgone the cape years ago along with the boots and gloves. He also was tapping his finger impatiently over his folded arms. "What took you?"

"I told you I had to shower."

"For an hour?"

Boomer couldn't resister the blush if he'd wanted to. "Aren't we going to the store?" He then walked past his father to open the door and wait for him to exit. Once the tower was locked up, Boomer picked up Mojo and the two flew down the stairs. Boomer landed outside his car and reached for his keys, easily finding them but not his phone. "My phone's upstairs."

"Leave it." Mojo said as he stood on the other side of the car. "I'd prefer to get to the grocery store sooner rather than later."

It took taking a deep breath to clam himself enough to let it go, and allow Mojo into his car. Soon the two were off, but not before Boomer noticed Mojo's looking around and sniffing in the car. "What is it?"

"You had sex in this car, haven't you?"

If it weren't for his superhuman reflexes, Boomer is sure he'd have crashed the car into the one in front of him. "Why are you asking me that?"

"It's faint—which is a relief," he muttered, "but the smell had seeped into the leather."

Boomer's blush reached his eyes and he avoided looking at Mojo. "I couldn't exactly bring her home, now could I? And it's hard to have sex with her at her house." He didn't know why he was spouting details about his sex life to Mojo, when he knew the last thing Mojo wanted to hear was about any of his sons having sex with eh Power Puff Girls.

It was expected that Mojo's mood would sour, and he didn't disappoint. However, he did get a wide-eyed look from his son with his next words. "I find that hard to believe, since Brick got Blossom pregnant while at the Utonium home."

"Dad, that's not fair and you know it." Boomer said carefully.

Mojo's pink eyes narrowed as he watched the passersby go about their mundane lives. "What isn't fair is the professor telling me how to parent my children. As if he can claim father of the year." The bitterness was thick and had Boomer wondering if there was another reason, Mojo demanded he accompany him.

"Are you angry with him for supporting Brick?" Boomer bravely asked.

The former simian villain didn't answer as he exited the car and folded his arms. Boomer sighed as he got out and the two walked into the store. Their food shopping venture is tense and a bit awkward. Boomer just pushed the basket while Mojo placed his items in. Boomer vaguely paid attention to the things that Mojo was putting in the basket. His mind just kept wandering to what Bubbles was doing and how classes were going for his brother and Blossom. He started to worry about Butch, but considering the recent strife he just put him through decided against it.

"Fuck him." He unthinkingly said aloud.

"What?"

Boomer looked up to see Mojo's questioning stare and shook his head. "Nothing, just pissed with Butch."

"What's he done now aside from run off to Hawaii with one of them?"

Boomer ran a hand over his face in irritation. "He's been a goddamn cockblock, not that I expect you to be upset about that." He quipped noticing the small smirk that appeared on Mojo's face.

A gruff chuckle escaped him as well before he returned to scanning the shelves. "Glad to know he's doing something right." Another thought occurred to Mojo, and the look of enlightenment on his face worried Boomer. "That's why you took so long in the shower."

"DAD!" The blond Rowdy Ruff Boy hissed, as his face bled pink over his cheeks and nose. When he risked a glance around himself, he though he'd die of embarrassment at the odd looks and smirks he got from a few of the other shoppers.

"What? There's nothing wrong with releasing tension yourself when your girlfriend obviously isn't capable of—."

"That has nothing to do with the other!" Boomer interrupted. He then clamped his mouth shut and counted to ten to try to quell his temper. Unfortunately, the basket handle wasn't safe and broke under the strain of his hands. "Shit."

"Still more tension to be released I see." Mojo chuckled.

Indignant and full of anger, Boomer stepped back from the basket and said the first thing that came to mind. "No wonder Brick and Butch couldn't wait to leave. You embarrass the living hell out of us." He then spun on his heel and made his way out of the store.

Behind him, he didn't see the shocked expression on Mojo's face morph into hurt and then freeze over with anger to hide his pain. He'd only been mildly teasing Boomer, for once finding some humor to be shared with his son. It was something that hadn't happened in a while and he was eager to reclaim that ease. Instead, he failed and was instead left angrier than he was before. In the course of a year, his family dynamic that he felt took a long time to establish turned on its head. As he went to the push the basket by its mangled handle, he thought about where the blame should lie. For years, it was easy to put all the blame on the Power Puff Girls. It was easier as he they aside from the professor had the closest connection to him. Having his sons in his life, slowly healed that ache that came with being abandoned over and over again.

Deciding not to dwell too much on that—at least for now—he resumed his shopping. Before going to the checkout, he noticed the premade cakes on display. One in particular that caught his attention was one with bananas on it. Now, one could say it was the chimp in him that was draw to the bananas on the cake, but it was something more. It was a memory of when the boys were younger, and Mojo had recently decided to cease his life of crime. To celebrate a new life with the boys, he'd baked a special cake for the occasion.

Making the decision, he spun the basket around and made a circuit through the store gathering the needed ingredients.

Outside the store, Boomer was sitting in his car with the music blasting as he fumed about Mojo being such a dad. He hoped Brick spared his son the humiliation of bad dad jokes and blatant disregard for censorship. As he was listening to his music, he glanced at the clock and wondered if Bubbles was wondering if he was up or not. He didn't check his phone upon waking up or getting dressed, and Mojo didn't allow him the chance to retrieve it once they were at the car.

He wasn't ashamed to say he missed her, considering all summer they were together. It felt nice to spend time with Bubbles and not be limited to curfews, classes, or imminent danger from demons. It felt their relationship was better than ever. The only chink now was this sex thing between them. This he blamed entirely on Butch. It was because of this, he currently felt little sympathy for his brother's troubles at the moment. It was sheer loyalty that he was keeping his mouth shut about his marriage. He'll even go so far as to deny having known anything about it. However, it didn't mean that he wasn't irritated or mad at his brother for being cockblocker and overall jerk.

Boomer was startled out of his thoughts by a knocking on the window door. Turning, he saw Mojo standing outside with his basket. Popping the truck, Boomer stepped out to help him. Once they were ready, they headed back home, faster than it took them to get there. Boomer was eager to get to his phone and see if Bubbles had messaged him.

He wasn't subtle about it either as he quickly flew Mojo up the tower and followed just as rapidly with the groceries. AS soon as the last bag was down, he flew to his room and dug under his pillows and blankets for his phone. When he finally found it, he was pleased to see that Bubbles had contacted him. She'd left him a message early that morning and had called him at least three times. Sprawling out on the bed, he opened the message and smiled.

Hey Sleepyhead. Text me when you wake up. I'll call when I get out of classes.

He immediately pressed her icon with her nickname Angel and waited eagerly for her to answer. The phone clicked after a few rings and was greeted to the sound of loud chatter. "Hello?"

"Hey Angel."

"Boomer, hey."

"Boomer? As in Rowdy Ruff Boy Boomer?" an unfamiliar male voice was faintly heard thanks to his super hearing. Boomer's hackles immediately went up.

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend." Bubbles told whoever was sitting with her.

"Huh." The voice said making mentioned boyfriend's grip tighten on the phone. He just barely stopped when Bubbles called his name.

"What?"

"Did you just wake up?" she asked.

"No. I've been up for a while. I just didn't have my phone on me. Mojo needed me to take him grocery shopping." Boomer explained, wanting to figure out who this random guy with his girl was.

"Well, aren't you sweet?" she teased before he faintly heard Blossom call to her. "Oh, Blossom just arrived. I'll call you once all my classes are over."

"Okay."

"I love you, bye."

"I love you too."

The phone call cut, and Boomer was left bewildered by what just happened. He'd never spent so brief a time on the phone with Bubbles. Add that to the fact that she was with another guy, who seemed surprised that she had him as a boyfriend, and he was thoroughly rubbed the wrong way. As much as he wanted to call her back and demand her attention, he knew that it wouldn't look good—especially considering that it was the first day. Instead, he sent a message to Brick, asking him check on Bubbles.

Why? Something wrong?

Boomer pursed his lips, before typing out a quick retort. Just check up on my girl.

He then threw his phone aside and rolled over running his hands over his hair. When his stomach growled, it reminded him that he didn't eat before Mojo dragged him to the grocery store. Dragging himself out of bed, he made his way to the stairs only to stop when he heard banging around in the kitchen. Coming down, he saw that it was Mojo and it looked like he was baking. It wasn't until he was fully in the kitchen that he saw the ingredients and stopped in his tracks.

"Chocolate peanut butter banana cake?" Boomer asked as he turned to Mojo who was cutting up banana slices. He easily recognized the concoction that Mojo made for him and his brothers years ago.

Feeling proud of himself, Mojo turned with a self-satisfied smile on his face. "Yes, I remember you three loving it when you were younger."

Boomer didn't respond to that as he sat down, his appetite suddenly leaving him. The cake that Mojo was baking was a special one. He remembered the first time it was made for him and his brothers. It was their first birthday, and both parents were there to celebrate. H.I.M had gotten them a handful of presents each—a mixture of toys and clothes that would make any five year old the envy of their peers. Another time was when Mojo received official custody and gave up crime. It was then that he'd promised he's always be there for his sons. Any other time Boomer could remember having the cake was their thirteenth birthday when the got their first sex talk. When the boys had anticipated the cake for their graduation, Mojo refused to make it. He said the cake was for special occasions, and it was tainted by the girls' presence. His withholding of the cake did more damage to their relationship than he realizes.

"Do you want to help?" Mojo asked, wanting to salvage his time with his son.

Looking at the ingredients and then at Mojo, who was standing there eagerly awaiting his acceptance. It took a moment, but he shook his head. "You're unbelievable."

"What?"

Boomer shook his head again and stood up from the table to leave.

"Boomer!"

His youngest son turned around and ran a hand through his hair. "What are you trying to do here?"

"I'm…I'm just trying to make things how they were."

At that, Boomer let out a laugh that was full of disbelief. "Don't you get it? Nothing will be as was before. We're growing up. Have grown up. Brick, Butch, and I are not the little boys you first created in a prison toilet."

Before Mojo could say anything, Boomer turned on his heel and went back up to his room. When he heard the door close, he slammed the knife down and swept his arms across the counter. Eggs, milks, chocolate, and banana all crashed to the floor. The bowls shattered while the utensils clanked loudly against the floor. His hands were braced against the table and he was controlling his breathing when Boomer reemerged with his shoes on and wallet and keys in hand.

He spared a fleeting look at Mojo before he opened the door to leave. He was mildly shocked to see the professor on the other side of the door. He was breathing heavily and leaning against the door frame. "Your stairs are broken again."

"You can help him fix it." Boomer said as he brushed past the professor and jumped down the stairs to land at the bottom with ease.

Stepping into the volcano tower, the professor made his way into the kitchen where he saw Mojo and rose a brow at his mess. "What're you angry about this time?"

He narrowly missed the baker's chocolate that was thrown his way. "Save your fucking patronization!" he yelled. "My family is moving further and further away from me and I'm helpless to stop it."

Once the professor sat, he watched as Mojo tried to gather himself and reign in his temper before he induced a heart attack. When he was sure that Mojo wouldn't throw something else at him he risked trying to speak to him. "What makes you so sure that you are helpless?"

"Because nothing I do is working."

"It's not working because you're trying to force control over the situation." The professor informed him. "Your boys and my girls are their own people. They have to make their own decisions."

"Is that to say you're fine with how their lives are?" Mojo demanded to know.

The professor sighed and reclined on the couch. "Not entirely. I wish Blossom wasn't pregnant at eighteen. I want Buttercup back home and not halfway across the world only giving me vague details about the shenanigans she's into with your son. I'm full to the brim with worry for two out of three of my daughters."

"If you're not fine with everything, then why don't you do something?" Mojo exclaimed, tired of feeling like he was doing something wrong.

A heavy sigh escaped the professor before he rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "Trying to control everything they do under the pretense of protecting them does neither party any good."

"Don't try to lecture me on what you don't know." Mojo snapped at him angrily.

"I do know." The professor said, looking over the side of the couch. "When I feared for the girls' safety and wasn't spending enough time with them, I made the power suit to compensate. All it did was hinder them and make them not want to be around me."

Mojo spared a glance at the professor before taking a step into shattered egg. With a sigh of frustration, he turned to the sink to grab a dishcloth to get some mess up. The professor got up as well and made his way over to help. The simian didn't say anything as he was joined in the cleaning of his kitchen. It was a strained silence that stretched until the mess was cleaned up. As Mojo was throwing the spoiled ingredients away he swallowed his pride decided to ask a question that was pressing on his mind for a few weeks now. "How…how is Brick?"

From his place by the counter with a rag whipping the last of the mess, the professor paused. "He's doing well. You would be proud of him."

It wasn't meant to be a barb to Mojo's lack of support, but it was none the less. "Are you proud that your daughter is pregnant?"

"What father in my position would be? This isn't what I wanted for Blossom. I was furious when I found out." The professor admitted. "I wanted to kick Brick's ass. I didn't, but he was struck in the face with Antidote X."

Mojo turned shocked eyes to the professor. "You maced my son?" Then he remembered that there were a few days that Butch and Brick wore glasses and wondered if those were the results of being maced as well. It seemed there were so many clues that were right before him that he ignored. Brick's fluctuating temper. Boomer's texting and phone calls with the brightest smile on his face. Butch sneaking off and returning at odd hours. Also, the numerous whispered conversations between them just out of earshot.

Seeing Buttercup in Butch's bed naked. Witnessing Boomer kiss Bubbles with his arms around her so familiarly. Hearing Blossom say that she was pregnant, and that Brick would stay by her side. For a while it seemed as if he didn't know his sons at all.

"How could I have been so blind?" He asked, not really addressing the professor.

The professor stayed quiet as Mojo worked through his emotions and thoughts about the past year. He also thought about how things have changed. Their children were grown. They had to make their own decisions. As their parents, all they could do was support them and try to give them the best advice.

Buttercup and Butch sat across from each other having a small breakfast in silence as they each thought about what they wanted to do next. The previous night, they talked about Vegas and how they felt about everything that happened up until Buttercup's body slam of Butch. It was difficult and more tears were shed—most on Buttercup's part. Buttercup was slowly coming to terms with them having slept with other people. Yes, they were both under the influence, but it was the finding of similar pleasure with Butch in another that bothered more. It made their intimacy seem…insignificant. Butch however, felt that their lapse of judgement could be forgiven because they were high and plastered. He didn't love Buttercup any less. He was mostly hurt that she thought she didn't love him as much. That was understood to an extent, as Butch could see where she felt like she'd betrayed his feelings and he hers. Much to his frustration he knew that was going to a grueling process to remind her otherwise.

The one thing that they both could agree on—Butch, a tad bit reluctantly—was that neither would have sex with the other until an STD check was done. Neither could remember if condoms were used. Combined with not knowing the sexually history of the other two, it was just safer to not risk each other. That being said, Buttercup had refrained from even kissing him for fear of possibly having something. His night was also spent on the couch. He'd never slept so uncomfortably in his life.

He was awoken to the sound of Buttercup moving around in the connected bathroom. He feigned sleep when she come out, taking in her naked body as she got dressed. If he couldn't have sex with her, he'd satisfy himself with his imagination and any visual aid she provided. Once she left, he got up and took care of his building tension in the shower. After he bathed and dressed himself, he went to go join Buttercup for breakfast.

No words were really said as they ate, wanting to prolong the fragile piece for a while longer. When there was nothing left to eat, Butch leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. "So, do you know what you want to do next?"

Buttercup was just bringing her orange juice to her lips when he asked, and purposefully took a deep long sip before she found the words she needed to say. "I want to go home."

"Home?" he asked. "Back to Townsville? Already?"

"We don't have much money, and…I want to get checked out as soon as possible." She said while not looking at him.

"We can work temporarily on the island and find a clinic here." Butch argued. "What's the rush to go back home?"

"What's the delay?" she countered with a furrowed brow.

Butch scratched at the stubble on his cheek and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because I don't want Mojo to know that we're married as of yet."

His wife dared to look up and she caught the tenseness of his shoulders. "Are you that worried about what he's going to say?"

At that Butch threw her an insulting look. "I'm not worried about what he's going to say, because I already know what he's going to do. He's going to have a heart attack. A worst one than when he found out that Blossom was pregnant."

Buttercup had to agree with him on that. However, she still wanted to go home and at the least be with her family. Also, she had to apologize to Blossom and that wasn't something she should do over the phone. It wasn't fair of her to take her fears and frustrations out on someone who didn't even know she existed yet. "I still want to go home. I want to be with my family."

Emerald eyes narrowed in concern and worry. "Are you still upset?"

"It's going to be a while before I'm not upset." Buttercup sighed. "How are you not?"

"I am upset. Don't think that I'm not." He told her tensely. "I just don't doubt my feelings for you."

Jade eyes fell to her half-eaten plate and swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew that her questioning of her feelings was only hurting him. She remembered feeling the same when he was questioning his own. "I'm sorry."

He felt like an ass right then, and reached across to take Buttercup's hand in his own. He was glad when she let him and squeezed her hand in comfort. "Don't. I just want us to figure out our issues first, before we drag anyone else into it."

Buttercup nodded her head and squeezed Butch's hand back. "Okay."

He heaved a sigh of relief and leaned over to kiss her knuckles. When he released her hand, he stood up and brought their plates to the tub for washing. When he returned to the table, he stood beside Buttercup. "Is it a big rush to get back to Townsville? Can't we stay here a while longer or maybe go another country. At least for a little while?"

"I don't want to prolong this longer than needs to." Buttercup said as she stood up herself.

The way she avoided eye contact with him and the tone of voice made Butch think she meant something else entirely. She brushed past him, wanting to head back to their room when he followed closely behind her and reached for her arm. "Buttercup, what did you mean by that?"

"By what?" she asked, shrugging him off and continuing up the stairs.

Butch used his speed to head her off on the stairs and spread his arms to both rails to block her path.

"Butch."

"What did you mean by not prolonging this? You're not eager to tell our dads we're married, are you?" He asked, really beginning to question her sanity.

"No. It's actually the last thing I want to do." She said, while looking up at him.

Before Butch could press further, an older man came up behind Buttercup and whistled. "Nice ass," he muttered lowly, thinking that the guy before her wouldn't hear. Too bad he didn't know about his super hearing.

"Hey!" Butch grabbed the man by his collar and easily hefted him off his feet, leaving him dangling over the stairs. "This is my wife! You show her some goddamn respect!"

"Butch!"

"I'm sorry." The guy dared to glance at Buttercup and then back at Butch. "Kind of young to me married, huh?"

Butch's hand tightened on his shirt, before he was pried away forcibly by Buttercup. She had the guy by the back of his shirt and set him on the stairs. "Sorry about that. We're just having some problems, and—."

"And I don't need you checking out her ass, all right?" Butch snapped.

"Butch!" Buttercup turned to him and shook her head. She then turned back to the older man and sighed. "Just keep your eyes to yourself."

The guy nodded and practically ran from the couple. Buttercup then turned to Butch and sighed. "Can we check out and go?"

Butch stared at her with blazing eyes and flared nostrils as he breathed heavily. "Yeah. Fine, whatever."

"Butch, what's wrong?" She asked as followed him to her room.

The green Rowdy Ruff Boy ground his teeth and clenched his hand. "I really love you Buttercup."

"I know." She said, not sure why he was saying that in such a firm tone of voice.

"Apparently not." He said while pushing himself from the wall. "Fuck!" he hissed as he ran his hand over his hair.

"Butch, what is it?" Buttercup asked, not sure she understood what was going on with him right now. It seemed like they were making progress in dealing with this situation. Now, all of a sudden it was like they'd taken three steps back. Right before they'd gotten to her door, she reached for him this time and forced him to face her. "Tell me."

Their green eyes of different shades met each other, searching for answers from unspoken questions. Butch saw only questions and concern in Buttercup's eyes are she stared up at him. Buttercup saw conflict and pain, and wondered where it suddenly came from. When he reached and took her left hand in his, she looked down and watched as his thumb ran over the ring on her finger. It was a slow reverent motion that had Buttercup sucking in her breath when she pieced together what Butch was worried about.

"Oh, fuck me." She whispered. "Butch, I-I-I…oh fuck! I don't know if I—if we should—."

"Don't say anything." Butch whispered in a low voice laced with strain from holding back his temper. "Don't."

He then let go of her hand and entered the room, leaving Buttercup standing in the doorway looking in. Her heart beat thunderously in her chest and her breath increased to almost hyperventilating speeds. She then closed her eyes and tried to calm herself as she processed what she just discovered. However, her mind was racing much too fast for her to think. The only coherent thought that came to mind was, "Oh, fuck me."

Hello my loves. Many apologies for the prolonged wait on this post. I really felt that a post that touched on what was going on with everyone was needed much earlier in the story. There are new beginnings happening. New trials and tribulations that they're going to face. I hope you guys enjoy the ride and much as you did the first time.

Until Next Time