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

Chapter Seven: Friends and Other Things

The Friday before the Labor Day Weekend is the one that everyone chose to meet up to kick off the three-day weekend. Brick decided that now was as good a time as any to have a house-warming party at their apartment. At first Blossom wasn't sure as their apartment wasn't that large, but Brick insisted. She then fretted about having to clean, and making sure that there was enough food and drinks for everyone. If there was one thing he admired about her, it was her need to be prepared. He hoped she was like this when she went into labor.

That Friday was also the day he got into a fight with a group of frat boys. He was in no way looking for a fight. However, he wasn't going to back down when one presented itself to him—especially when said fight was about something one of the guys said about Blossom.

He'd just left his intro to architecture class when he passed a group of guys trying to recruit guys for their fraternity. Brick never spared it a second thought as a fraternity would pull him away from taking car of Blossom. That and he already had brothers he trusted with his life, despite how asinine they could be.

One of the guys had called out to him as he was walking past asking him if he wanted to join. When Brick shook his head and kept walking, one of the older guys glanced up and stiffened in shock. When he came out of it, he reached out a swung his hand harshly smacking the back of the underclassman's head. "What the hell were you thinking?" he hissed lowly, not knowing that Brick could hear him.

"What?" the clueless frat asked. "I was just trying to recruit—."

"Not him." The upperclassman growled before turning to look at the seeming retreating back of Brick. "He's a Rowdy Ruff Boy."

"So?"

"'So'? Didn't you hear about the shit they did?"

Brick had stopped walking to really listen and waited to hear what else would be said about him. "Weren't they like kids when they stuff happened? They've been pretty lowkey for a while."

The upperclassman snorted and folded his arms as he turned to go back to his underclassman. "Lowkey? They were all everyone was talking about over the summer. All of Townsville was buzzing about them."

Brick sighed, knowing that this was what worried Blossom the most. Being relatively famous in a small city like Townsville made it easy for everyone to know their business. That being said, the boys still managed to keep their relationship with the girls a secret for the better part of a year. However, that could be on account of Mojo's lack of interest in Townsville gossip and his xenophobia. With a slight shake of his head Brick started walking again, only to stop when he heard his girlfriend's name.

"You know Blossom, Power Puff Girl Blossom is pregnant. She always made herself seem like she was so much smarter and better than everyone else." The upperclassman scoffed, not noticing how his underclassman started to shrink back from the slowly approaching Rowdy Ruff Boy with fire in his eye.

"Uh, dude."

"That fucking guy somehow managed to not only sweet talk Princess into going out with him, but dumped her and then started fooling with Blossom. He must've either been really slick with what he said, or she's just not as smart as she thinks she is."

"Dude!" the younger man stressed before backing completely away from the target of the Rowdy Ruff Boy's sudden rage.

"Taking some other girl's sloppy seconds and then getting knocked up by the town bad boy just like any other white trash. Who knew she would be such an ea—!"

The frat boy didn't get a chance to finish as he was singlehandedly hefted up off the ground and thrown into his fraternity stand. The wood shattered around him and he was dazed for but a good two minutes before he registered the screaming and yelling. When he managed to stand up, shakily and on wobbling legs, he saw his other frat brothers, sans the younger one he was just talking to, surrounding Brick waiting and ready for a fight. The fiery Rowdy Ruff Boy hardly noticed them as his eyes remained focused on the jackass that thought he would get away with speaking ill of Blossom in his presence.

"Want to say anything else about Blossom?" he said.

One of the guys, bigger than Brick in stature and muscle tone, reached out a grabbed the collar of his shirt and lifted him up. "You sure do talk big for a fresh…man! Oh shit!"

When the guy took hold of Brick, he slowly levitated into the air, hoisting the idiot up along with him. The muscle of the fraternity then realized he was dangling from the collar of the flying boy's shirt. Before the ground could shrink some of the others reached out to grab hold of their friend, thinking they could weigh Brick down. Little did they know that their efforts would be in vain as Brick only soared higher, a string of frat boys hanging off him.

"Oh shit! Let us down! Let us down!" The guy screamed while clinging to Brick.

Brick then grabbed hold of the one that first grabbed him, before turning his blazing red eyes onto him. The guy looked down, seeing that they were at least three stories high. If Brick were to drop them, it wouldn't be fatal, just a number of broken bones, sprains, and bruises. He wouldn't, but damn it if it didn't cross his mind. However, he didn't want to prove that ringleader who was staring safely, if not terrified, from the ground right. Instead he flew over to the pond in the middle if the quad with a large fountain and dropped the lot of them. Their screams were swallowed by the splashing of bodies in the water. The other students who saw the scene from start from start to finish already had their phones out and were recording the whole thing. Brick then watched the frat boys flail and swim to the shallow end and of the pond before pulling themselves out. From the corner of his eyes, he caught the sight of flashes from cell phone cameras.

"Fuck," he grumbled before flying off and landing out of sight behind the university center. Taking a quick look to see that he was truly alone, he leaned against the wall and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke through his nose. He did this a few times more, until the color of the smoke he breathed lightened in color. He should've taken his own advice and not have gotten so pissed off by what some numb nuts said. However, it had more to do with that jackass bashing on Blossom. Practically calling her stupid and naïve and making him seem like some douchebag that fucked around with any girl in his path. It truly shouldn't have gotten under his skin, but he couldn't let Blossom be disrespected like that. He honestly could care less what was said about him.

As he was cooling down, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. It didn't have to even guess to know how it was. All he did was wait expectantly after he answered the call. "What the actual hell, Brick? You just threw a bunch of guys into the pond."

"Technically I dropped them."

"I don't care about technicalities, Brick. Why did you do it?" Blossom shouted into the phone.

"Why do you think?" he asked her, wanting to know what she thought.

There was a slight crackling on the other end of the phone, telling him she'd just blown ice onto the speaker. "Brick, I'm not in the mood to play this game with you right now. Your public display of Rowdy Ruff Boy behavior is not okay."

"Maybe they needed a bit of reminding that I'm not just a Rowdy Ruff Boy, but the Rowdy Ruff Boy, the leader no less." He snapped into the phone. "Just because I haven't done something bad in a while, doesn't mean I'm not still capable."

It was silent on the other end of the call for a long while. When the call suddenly dropped, he pulled his cell back to see that Blossom had truly hung up on him. There wasn't time to think about it when he heard his name be called from his left. Turning he saw Blossom standing at the far side of the building before she made her way over to him. As she made her way over to him, she couldn't help but appraise her form. She chose to wear a red oversized sweater dress that was loose with a bare of black sandals. Her hair was braided into a crown that wrapped around her head. There was no denying that she was a beautiful girl. Her being pregnant did nothing to diminish that.

When she came to stand in front of him, she almost undid him with her look of concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you just threw—dropped a group of guys into the campus pond." She said while leaning against the wall beside him.

Brick didn't want to answer her and looked to the ground for an angry set to his brow. "I'm fine." when she gave him a raised brow, he blew out a breath and leaned his head against the wall. "It's just…some guy was running his mouth about things he didn't know."

It wasn't hard to guess what it was that set him off and Blossom continued to frown at him. "What happened to 'fuck them'?"

Brick barked out a laugh as he looked at Blossom, before taking her hand in his own. "Yeah, I know." He then brought her hand to his mouth so that he could kiss her knuckles. "I just…I just couldn't let this guy keep dragging your name through the mud, especially when it made Princess look like a victim."

At the mention of Princess' name, Blossom's skin went cold and she balled her free hand into a fist. "That girl." She hissed.

Brick looked her way and repressed a chuckle. "I know. You'd think she'd have gotten the picture when I broke that column in her house last spring. That or when your dad threatened to have an audit pulled on them."

Pink eyes flashed to him, widening in shock. "What? When did you two do that?"

"After our first appointment when Princess caught us there." He answered, somewhat surprised that the professor didn't say anything about it to her. "He called Princess and inbred whore and her dad a primitive ignoramus."

Blossom's mouth dropped open before she started laughing. "He didn't. Did he, really?"

Brick nodded as he too started laughing with Blossom. "I kid you not. When he threatened to have them audited and have all of Princess' illegal dirty laundry aired, I think she was ready to piss herself."

"It wouldn't be the first time we've had to put her in her place." Blossom commented, as she sobered and a small pucker to her brow formed. "And it looks like I will have to do so again."

"Not today." Brick said as he shook his head. "We're having a party at our house tonight, remember?"

"Right." Blossom sighed, with a frown. "Should I feel bad that Buttercup and Butch aren't here?"

Brick shrugged as he pushed himself off the wall. "Not really. I know I don't. They're out wherever they are trying to figure their own shit out. Have you eaten lunch yet?"

"We were just about to order Molten Fire Chili Fires with pickles." She said with a smile. "The baby loves spicy things."

"The baby is going to give mommy heartburn." Brick commented as he pulled Blossom beside him toward the cafeteria. "Have you talked to Buttercup since that time?"

"No." she answered with a sigh. "Have you heard from Butch?"

"Yeah, actually." He said as the two entered the building after rounding the corner. "It was interesting to say the least."

"What do you mean?" Blossom looked forward and saw Bubbles sitting with Jamie as had become their habit since classes started and choose to sit at a table a way's away. When Brick kept going forward toward where Bubbles was sitting, she confusedly followed after him.

"Butch told me he thinks Buttercup might want to get divorced." He told her while keeping his eyes on the guy that always seemed to find Bubbles around lunch time. "Hey guys, sorry for being late." He pulled a chair out for Blossom as he kept his eyes trained on Jamie.

When Boomer had first mentioned checking up on Bubbles, he'd thought it was just him missing her terribly while she was in class. When he saw her the first day, chatting it up with him he was only mildly curious. Bubbles could talk to whoever she wanted, as far as he was concerned. When Blossom told him that they went to the Academy together, he cared even less. It was only after seeing him for two weeks straight at lunch hanging onto Bubbles' every word, reminding him of Boomer when he first started to like Bubbles, that he became slightly concerned.

Jaime, the boy in question, only shook his head. "Not a problem." He said before turning back to Bubbles and asking her what she plans on doing this weekend.

"Brick and Blossom are actually throwing a party at their apartment tonight." Bubbles answered him. "You should come."

"Yeah," Blossom agreed. "You'll get to meet the rest of the gang."

"All our friends from Pokey Oaks are awesome." Bubbles gushed. "Robin is our best friend out of the bunch and Goo will be there, someone else you'll know besides us."

"She's dating my friend Mac. You won't see Butch or Buttercup there, but you will see Boomer." Brick interjected just to see how Jamie would react. This didn't go unnoticed by Blossom as she looked from the corner of her eye at him.

If Brick hadn't been looking, he would've missed the slight dimming in Jamie's eyes at the mention of Boomer. "Cool, if you text me Blossom's address, I'll see if I can swing by."

"Let me give you my number then, so you'll know it's me." Bubbles said right as the waiter came with food for Bubbles and Jamie.

Blossom who was watching Brick watch Jamie, nudged his arm with her elbow to get his attention. "Hey, ready to order?"

"The jalapeno mango chicken sandwich." He told her without looking away from Jamie who dug into his food while he listened to Bubbles talk about their high school friends.

His pregnant girl stared at him with a furrowed brow before placing her own order for the Molten Fire Fries before Brick could stop her, along with a Caesar salad. "Thank you."

"Easy on the peppers for the pregnant lady." Brick cut in, just before the waiter was about to leave. Blossom's eyes widened before turning to narrow on Brick. "Don't even."

Blossom's lips set into a pout. "Fine."

Brick smirked as he turned back, just in time to see Jamie smile as he got Bubbles' number into his phone. The frown that crossed his face was small as he thought about how to reel in Boomer when he heard about this.

The blond Rowdy Ruff Boy, walked into the house unbuttoning the shirt he had on for his job interview. He'd quickly gotten tired of Mojo trying to spend time with him by either hovering over him while he was on the couch—be it while watching tv or playing a video game—or dragging him on some errand, he could easily have done for himself. He'd even missed the chance to see Bubbles, because Mojo needed supervision after he'd gotten blasted and knocked into the wall while trying to fix one of his old battle armors. It was partly Boomer's fault as he wasn't at the ready with a tool Mojo needed as he was waiting for a call from Bubbles.

Mojo had yelled at him for not paying attention, and Boomer in turn had spent his weekend making sure that Mojo didn't injure himself further. When the professor came over, so that Boomer could have some time to himself. The first thing he'd done was call Bubbles and try to see if they could meet up. Unfortunately, she couldn't as she had homework that consisted of reading and taking notes. She also had quizzes to prepare for. It was because of the three-day weekend that she would be able to put off her homework for a day and enjoy some time with them. He couldn't wait to see her at the party tonight.

Flopping on the couch, he rested his head on the back and sighed. His interview had started out well, but then the mention of him being a Rowdy Ruff Boy had come up and he wasn't sure how to respond at first.

"Honestly, who asks something like that?"

"You marked no for felonies."

"That's right. I don't have any felonies on my record." Boomer had answered, and it was the truth. They were minors for one when they were at the prime of their Rowdy Ruff Boy days, so therefore expunged.

"But you're one of the Rowdy Ruff Boys," the manager said as she pulled his glasses off his face. "Your reputation and the history leaves little to be desired."

Boomer bristled at that and breathed through his nose. "What you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that despite your recent reform, it doesn't change the fact that you and your brothers were a menace to Townsville."

"If you thought so bad about me, then why the interview?" Boomer asked, irritated that his time had been wasted. He could've been out looking for work in other places.

The manager then leaned back in his chair as he placed the clipboard with Boomer's application onto his desk. "Should I have to worry about any trouble with you is what I'm asking?"

"No."

"What makes you so sure?"

"What makes you so sure that I would get into any trouble?" Boomer countered, knowing this job was a bust and that he would rather just go home now.

The two stared each other down, before the manager chuckled and clasped his hands together over his desk. "Seeing as you'll be loading and unloading a produce truck, there won't be much a chance of you getting into trouble."

Boomer's eyes widened as he looked at the smirking manager. "I got the job?"

"You got the job."

A half smile crossed Boomer's face before stood and reached out to shake the hand of the manager. "Thank you, sir."

"I expect you here Tuesday morning at five am. You'll be shadowing my best man as he makes his rounds, learning from him and seeing the different places we make deliveries to." He told him as he shook the younger man's hand. He gripped it tight once before he felt a tight squeeze on his own hand. When he pulled it back, he flexed his hand just the littlest bit to get the ache out.

Boomer was glad he got the job, but the last part of his interview was nerve wracking. Still, he'd be glad to get out of the house for a decent portion of the day. It'd also give Mojo reason to leave him in peace. Just as his eyes closed, he heard Mojo's room door open and him pad out into the living room.

"Boomer, you're back. Where have you been?" Mojo asked as he predictably came around the couch to sit beside Boomer.

"I had a job interview." Boomer sighed and he opened his eyes and turned to look at Mojo. "I got the job."

The news brought a smile to Mojo's face as Boomer stood up and walked to the kitchen. "That's good. Great, really. What job is it?"

Boomer went to the fridge to grab the carton of orange juice and drunk straight from it. He hesitated in telling Mojo, only because he knew Mojo would have an opinion—and he was positive it wouldn't be a good opinion. "It's to be a truck driver to restaurants."

"What?"

"I'm going to deliver food supplies to restaurants." He said plainly as he returned the orange juice to the fridge. He then started to head upstairs, mentally counting down for when Mojo started shouting. Three. Two.

"A truck driver? All your ability, and you're going to be a truck driver?" Mojo started. "Boomer, that's such a waste."

"It's only my first job. It's not going to shape the rest of my life." Boomer sighed.

Mojo grumbled in disagreement. "Is that the only thing you sent an application in for? You didn't accept it did you? Have you heard from any of the other—?"

"Dad!" Boomer groaned halfway up the stairs. "It's a job. I'll be out of the house doing something productive. Or would you rather I sat at home all day scratching my butt?"

Mojo didn't have to think twice about his answer. Of course, he wanted his son to be doing something rather than wasting his days on tv and video games. "Yes, but…"

"It's a job. I'll be making my own money. You don't have to worry about me." Boomer said with a yawn. "I'm going to take a nap."

"Boomer?"

The blue rowdy ruff boy sighed as he turned to look at Mojo who was turned on the couch looking up at him. "What?" He wanted to check in with Bubbles before dozing off for a few hours.

Mojo clenched his hands on the back of the couch, before taking a deep breath. "I know things have been strained and things are different now, but that doesn't mean we can't do the things we enjoy together can't we?"

"It doesn't." Boomer said carefully.

"Great, then how about we watch a movie tonight and—."

"I'm going to a party tonight…at…Brick and Bloss—." He cut himself off as he saw Mojo's face tighten in anger. "It's not just me that's going. It's all our friends from school. Remember Mac and Jack? The girls' friends are going to be there too."

Mojo snorted as he turned and sat on the couch, falling into a simmering rage. "Fine, go. Go. Leave me here to wallow in solitude."

Boomer opened his mouth to say something, but closed it just as quickly as he knew nothing he would say could help Mojo's surliness. So silently, he went up to his room, tossing his phone on the bed before undressing from the confining shirt and slacks and flopped on the bed in his underwear and a t-shirt. Reaching for his phone, he immediately went to his messages. There was one from Bubbles telling him the address to Brick and Blossom's place. Also there was her telling him that she couldn't wait to see him that night. That made him smile, before putting his phone face down, not seeing the message from his brother saying Bubbles was bringing a friend with her tonight. A male friend.

"All right, you. Spill it. What's with the scrutiny?" Blossom asked as she hung up the phone after placing the very large pizza order.

"What scrutiny?" Brick asked as he came back in from setting the cooler full of sodas on the patio. Blossom had used her ice powers to make a nice powder of frost that coated each of the cans and was melting slowly, ensuring the drinks stayed chilled long after everyone got there.

Blossom folded her arms as she sat on their plush black fabric couch. "You were staring at Jamie all during lunch."

"Because he was staring at Bubbles all during lunch." Brick commented as he went to six bags of chips on the counter, ready to open them into large bowls.

Blossom's brow furrowed in confusion. "What about it?"

Brick stopped what he was doing to stare at Blossom with incredulous wide eyes. "You're serious?" When Blossom indicated that she didn't know what he was talking about, she s3et the chips aside and leaned over the counter. "You mean to tell me you haven't noticed that he's hung up on your sister—my brother's girlfriend."

"Bubbles can have friends that are guys." Blossom defended her sister, not liking Brick's insinuation.

Brick went back to the chips with a shake of his head. "I'm not worried about your sister. I'm worried about my brother and his tendency to get jealous. He just about ripped Mac's head off last year, because he thought he liked her. Imagine what he'll do to this poor guy who he'll know likes Bubbles."

"Jamie's a good guy." Blossom said.

Brick shook his head again at Blossom missing the point. "Blossom our makeup are snips, snails, and dog tails."

"Puppy dog tails." She corrected with a smirk.

"Actually, it was only one tail and I'm pretty sure the dog was fully grown." Brick quipped at her with a mock scowl. "Point being, we all exhibit some of the dog part of our makeup. For me, it's the alpha dog part."

"Alpha dog?" Blossom rose a brow at him.

"Yes. I'm the eldest. Therefore, the leader. Therefore, the alpha." Brick said with a smile. "Therefore, making you my bitch."

"In context of the dog reference, yes. In any other context right now with me pregnant, you're my bitch." Blossom said from her lounging position on the couch.

Brick finished dumping the chips in the bowls and threw the bags away as he went to Blossom. He then leaned over her and kissed her lips softly. "If you say so."

"I do." She said as she kissed him back.

Brick then sat on the couch beside her and sighed. "Getting back to the point I was making, Butch is the more feral side of the dog, and Boomer…Boomer is the possessive."

"Possessive?"

"Maybe that's too aggressive a word. He's protective of what's his. Loyal to a fault." Brick supplied.

Blossom processed that for a moment. "He knows Bubbles loves him, right?"

"Yeah, he does, but that doesn't mean he won't get irritated if some guy is throwing his version of puppy eyes at his girl." Brick said. "I know I would."

At that Blossom scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm seven months pregnant. I doubt any guy would be looking at me right now with puppy eyes."

"I am." He said as he carefully laid across her with his chin resting on her shoulder and arm wrapped just under her breast. His brilliant red eyes shining with mirth as he gave her his version of puppy eyes.

"You're biased as you're the one that made me pregnant." She informed him, her mood unexpectedly turning dark as thoughts of how she got pregnant ran through her mind. It didn't happen as often as it did in the beginning, but sometimes she would be struck with a wave of sadness about the conception of their child.

"Blossom?" Brick noticed the drop in her temper.

"I'm fine. Just…" she sighed and placed her cool hands on either side of Brick's face and stared into his shining ruby eyes with her pink diamonds. "Just know that I don't blame you for anything. Okay?"

"Okay." He said earnestly.

She then pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes. "I love you, and I love our baby."

"I know." Brick told her before reaching and pressing his lips to Blossom's in a deep kiss. "I know you love me, and I love you both so much." He went back to kiss her when a round of knocking and catcalls from who could only be Tabitha sounded. Brick glanced at the door before pulling himself and Blossom off the couch. "Party time."

Robin, Sam, Tabitha, Mac, and Goo all shuffled in and with them were various things that people would bring to a housewarming party. One of the things being sparkling wine as they couldn't legally get wine. Appliances, like a food processer and a toaster. Goo and Mac were the only ones to bring something for both parents and baby. An at home spa treatment with scrubs, soaps, lotions, and bath bombs for Blossom. A new video game for Brick. Last, but not least, a mobile with puppies for their baby.

As soon as the girls came in, they asked to see the nursey. It wasn't much at the moment, only the crib that Blossom loved so much and a changing table. Brick and Mac stayed in the living room, and set up the game system. The gushing of the girls could be heard from down the hall.

"Well, at least we'll know you'll hear the baby if he starts crying." Mac commented, remembering the apartment he, his brother, and mother stayed in when he was younger.

"With super hearing, it'd be hard to miss anything the baby does." Brick commented as he and Mac moved to the couch after setting up the gaming system.

While the commercials leading up to the game menu played out, Brick and Mac sat in a companionable silence. It was only broken when a knock at the door came and Brick called for however it was to come in. Seeing that it was Boomer, and he was alone he rose a brow. "Where's Bubbles?"

"She's not here?" he said as he came to sit on the couch between Brick and Mac.

Mac shook his head as he looked between the screen and his blonde friend. "Nope. I thought you two would be arriving together."

"Yeah, I stopped by her dorm house, but the RA wouldn't let me up since she wasn't there." Boomer said as he leaned back and got comfortable. "She must be out studying."

"On a Friday?" Mac asked, attention mostly focused on the game menu. He and Brick pressed play and started.

Boomer shrugged as he watched Brick and Mac choose their fighting avatars. "She didn't answer when I called her."

"She might be with Jamie." Brick said absently. "I told you she was bringing a friend."

"No, you didn't." Boomer said turning to his brother with confusion. "Who's Jamie?"

Brick was trying to focus on beating Mac, but saw the reg flag waving before him. "I sent you a text earlier. Didn't you check it?"

Boomer stared at his brother with a furrowed brow before reaching into his pocket for his phone. Just as he was pulling up his messages a round of knocks. Boomer quickly stood up thinking it was Bubbles, only to be disappointed when he saw it was the pizza guy. Brick paused his game, and gave Mac a mock glare to not cheat as he went to grab the cash for the pizzas. Boomer took the six pizzas the guys was carrying to put them on the kitchen counter, when he heard Bubbles' giggling. Quickly setting the pizzas down, he turned to see her walk in with a guy right behind her, eyes trained solely on her.

Brick came back with cash and seeing the burning look that Boomer was giving Jaime, quickly blocked his sight of him as he paid the pizza guy. When that was taken cared of, he turned to Bubbles and Jamie. "Hey guys. Welcome. You're just in time for pizza. The girls have been in the nursey gossiping. Want to tell them pizza is here?"

"Sure. Let me say hi to Boomer first." Bubbles said, bypassing Brick and greeting Boomer with a smile and a hug. "Hey."

"Hey," he said hugging her back just a bit tighter than he should have. "Who's that?"

Bubbles glances behind her to see Brick leading Jamie to the couch where Mac was caught about to cheat. "That's Jamie. I had a few classes with him when I went to Townsville Academy. We have veterinary science class together."

"Jamie's a guy." He stated.

"Yeah?" Bubbles said with a raised brow knowing the beginnings of a Boomer jealous streak was about to appear.

Hearing the subtle warning, Boomer worked a smiled onto his face and made himself relax. "What?"

"I know you Boomer." She said before reaching up and pecking his cheek. "Jamie's just a friend. Like Mac."

The not so subtle reminder of how he was when he thought Mac liked Bubbles made Boomer blush and look away. "If you say so."

"I do." She said firmly, but with a wide smile. "So, what did you do all week? I haven't heard from you much."

"Job hunting." He said as he turned to one of the pizza boxes and grabbed two slices. Handing one to Bubbles, he took a big bite out of his before he continued talking. "I…actually had an interview…today." He said around chews.

Bubbles, taking smaller bites and waiting until she was finished before talking, asked, "Well how did that go?"

"I got…the job." Boomer said as he swallowed the bit in his mouth.

"That's great. What will you be doing?" she asked.

"Delivery truck driver. I'll be bringing produce and supplies to restaurants." Boomer said, before taking another bite.

"Boomer that's great!" Bubbles told him with a smile on his face. "When do you start?"

"Monday at five in the morning." He caught some stray pizza sauce with his thumb.

Bubbles was about to say more when Blossom walked into the kitchen. She was about to greet them, when the smell of pizza and seeing both Boomer and Bubbles with a slice had her putting her hands on her hips. "Really, you two? Eating before the pregnant lady?"

"If we had to wait until after you got your share, there wouldn't be any left." Bubbles teased lightly.

Blossom rolled her eyes before grabbing a paper plate and a napkin and shoving it at her sister. "At least try to have some manners." She chastised lightly.

Soon everyone was seated in the living room, either on the couch or floor, with a plate with a slice if pizza. Everyone was talking at once about classes or work. It wasn't until Goo mentioned how jealous she was of Jack going to study in Japan for the next year, that Blossom remembered their other absentee guests. Brick said something about Buttercup wanting a divorce. As much as she knew her friends cared for Buttercup and Butch, she wouldn't bring it up in front of company. It was a private matter for now.

"What's he studying in Japan?" Bubbles asked, drawing Blossom make to the current conversation.

Mac shrugged as he leaned against Goo. "I think he mentioned something about history or mythology."

"Sounds about right with him having a history of demons in his family." That then reminded Mac of something Jack had told him to ask Brick. "Hey, what happened to that dagger after you defeated H.I.M?"

Boomer looked to Brick, realizing he didn't know either or had cared to ask. He was satisfied knowing that his mother was dead and gone.

"Lost in his realm, I think? Kind of blacked out while bleeding out." Though he said it lightly, his hand went unconsciously to his abdomen, ghost pain smarting in his shoulder. Before a solemnness set over the room, Brick sighed and through his head back dramatically. "However, I don't know what was worst. Being stabbed in the stomach or having to stomach that hospital food."

Robin forced a laugh that made everyone else join in, before suggesting that they get the game started up and make it a competition. It was much needed as she and Sam moved to get the game set up.

Jamie, who didn't know what everyone was talking about—and not as comfortable with the group yet—nudged Bubbles. When she turned to meet his questioning stare, he asked, "They defeated H.I.M? When?" Even though he whispered, he could still be heard by the other three super humans. Boomer listening more intently than Brick or Blossom.

"Last spring on prom night." She whispered while her hand closest to Boomer reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. Her fear had rivaled Blossom's that night, between the professor having been attacked and the boys gone. Boomer squeezed her hand back in comfort.

Jamie's brow furrowed before his eyes widened in realization. "So, when they fell from the sky that night earlier this year?" He whispered.

"Yeah, it was scary." Bubbles murmured, eyes dropping as she remembered seeing Boomer unconscious in the gurney.

Boomer's arm came up and wrapped around Bubbles' shoulders, holding her to him. She gave him a faint smile before settling against him in a more comfortable position. Unseen by her, Boomer spared a quick glance at Jamie. The guy hadn't taken his eyes off Bubbles, and it didn't help that his eyes were filled with concern for her fear. It bugged the hell out of him, and his glance turned into a glare. Even when the guy turned to face the television, Boomer's glare followed him. It was only broken by the sudden impact he felt on the top of his head. Spinning around, his sparking cobalt eyes met warning red. Brick just barely shook his head, before turning to look at the game their friends had selected. When he turned around, he tried to relax knowing that he was just being a little possessive. Bubbles wouldn't stand for it, if he drove her friend away for being an ass.

The group settled into an excited flurry as the rounds of racing and fighter games were played one after another. The excitement from everyone's yelling and screaming as they either won or loss had Blossom's belly becoming its own center of action. The baby seemed to never stop moving as he seemed to get just as excited as the rest of the group. This seemed to cause the girls to coo and cuddle around Blossom as they tried to get a feel of the baby moving. Unfortunately, all the excitement from everyone else wasn't enough to keep Blossom from falling asleep. Brick felt her head slip to his shoulder, and she let out a icy snore against his skin.

This didn't go unnoticed by Robin right after the last race was won. "Looks like our host is worn out. We should probably get going everyone."

Tabitha glanced from her place in the recliner at Blossom's sleeping form and yawned. "Yeah, you're right. My place is too far, so I think I'll crash at Josh's tonight." She got up from her place and stretched with a loud groan. After saying goodbye to the other, she followed after Sam and Robin.

Goo and Mac left after saying their goodbyes to everyone, leaving Jamie, Bubbles and Boomer—who was nowhere in sight at the moment. Brick stood up and leaned to take Blossom to their room. "I'm just going to set her down in bed."

Jamie nodded before standing up. "I should head back to my dorm. It's really late."

"Yeah."

The former high school classmate stood and awkwardly stretched before turning to Bubbles. "Well, I'll see you around." He said before starting to make his way to the door. Just as he was stepping through the threshold, he felt a hand on his arm.

"Hey, I know my friends were a bit much tonight, but did you at least have fun?" Bubbles asked him with shining sky-blue eyes.

The openness of her expression and the sincere concern dazed Jamie for a moment. He then smiled and laughed.

"What?"

"You're just so…Bubbles. Sweet as always." He said smiling back at her with a small smile.

A blush had come across her nose as she wasn't sure how to take the compliment. "Thanks, I guess."

Another chuckle left Jamie before he took Bubbles into and unexpected hug. "Thanks for inviting me."

The hug was over before Bubbles could really register what happened and soon Jaime was out the door of the apartment. Bubbles stood there with a furrowed brow. She then shook her head and smacked her hands lightly against her cheeks. "Don't get bent out of shape over a hug. It's just Jamie."

Down the hall, Boomer was just coming out of the bathroom when he ran into Brick. He'd just put Blossom down and she was sound asleep. "Boomer."

"Hey, think I can stay the night over?"

Brick stared at his brother for a moment and then made a quick decision. "No."

"But—."

"Go spend the night at Bubble's dorm. A night together could do you some good." Brick told him.

Boomer didn't have to guess at what his brother meant, and while the idea of spending the night with Bubbles was a welcome one, he couldn't help dropping his head and letting loose a groan. "Damn it. I don't have any condoms."

"As much as I don't want to discourage you from having sex tonight, that not what I meant." He spared a glance down the hall and then lowered his voice so that only Boomer's super hearing could hear. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"About what?"

"About what a cunning linguist you are." Brick felt as well as saw the hot blush that flooded his younger brother's face. "I'm guessing you didn't."

"It's…it's none of your business." Boomer murmured before looking away, eyes burning with his laser vision and knuckles crackled as his hand clenched into fists.

"No, but think of it this way," Brick hated to do it, but It would get Boomer's head out of his ass—if only a little bit. "the sooner you discuss, the sooner you can get back to fucking her. If she's fucking you, you won't have to be jealous about Jamie."

The expression Boomer gave Brick was doubtful as he raised a brow at him. "I'm not jealous." He denied, despite the snort that escaped Brick. "And if I was—which I'm not—how would fucking solve anything?"

"Because if she's drunk off your dick, she won't be paying any attention to him." It was a crude way of putting it, but Brick needed to at least attempt to get his brother to work this out with his girlfriend. The sooner he put his two scents into this the quicker he could try to help Butch with his marriage issue. Once his brothers' issues were handled, then and only then would he finally devote all his time to Blossom and their incoming baby. Part of him doubted he'd get any reprieve from being his brothers' keeper unless he gave himself an out. His son would need him more than his brothers in two months.

Clarity came over Boomer's face as he took in a deep breath. "You're right. I'll ask her if I can spend the night."

Brick clapped his brother on the shoulder and partially shoved him down the hall. "Good. Now, get the fuck out of my house." He said with a laugh.

Boomer huffed a laugh before he walked down the shirt hall to the living room where Bubbles now sat on the couch. Her head was facing the ceiling as it reclined on the back of the couch, and her eyes were closed as if deep in thought. "Bubbles?"

"Huh?" she answered turning to Boomer. "What?"

"Do you mind if I say the night in your dorm?"

Boomer shook her head and smiled. "I wouldn't at all."

Without even realizing that he was holding her breath, Boomer exhaled deeply and reached his hand out to take Bubbles. When he was able to pull her to his side, his other arms came up and wrapped her in a hug. Bubbles own arms came up to do the same and she nuzzled her head into his chest.

This is nice. She thought. Much better than when Jamie hugged me. With that thought running through her mind, she forgot any of the slight confusion she felt when her high school classmate hugged her.

Hello my lovies. Sorry, sorry, sorry, for such a late post. The last few weeks have been a bit hectic for me. Either way, I hope this chapter suits you all. A little more blue drama next chapter with some sprinkling of the professor and Mojo. Also, I may be writing another one shot of Baby Red for the holidays, so be on the look out for that one.

Until Next Time