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

Chapter Fourteen: Before Everything

A blue sports car had just arrived at Townsville University and from it stepped out Boomer. On his head was a blue bandana that he wore to keep his sweaty hair from getting in his face while working, along with a blue jacket over a white shirt and dark jeans with his favorite sneakers. He was really looking forward to this weekend with Bubbles. A few days at the lake with just him and his girl were sure to do them good; especially Bubbles. He planned to cook her some of his favorites from when he and his brothers went on the rare lake trip with Mojo. If she liked pickles on her chili fries, he was sure he would like the peanut butter Oreo smores skillet bake.

As he was walking around campus, he was oblivious to the stares from some of the female students that were gawking at him as he walked toward the dorms. He wasn't sure if Bubbles was ready or not, but he didn't mind waiting. Maybe he could find Jamie and see why he wasn't studying with Bubbles—not that he minded that they weren't spending time together. It was no secret that he was jealous of Jamie for spending so much time with Bubbles. However, what bothered him more was some guy hurting her feelings.

Walking into the dorms, he made his way over to the resident assistant to get checked in for the next few hours. He'd just finished penning his name to the sign in sheet when he heard his name being said. Turning around, he saw Jamie just walking into the building with his backpack hauled over his shoulder and his arms full of books. The normal human was breathing hard, but his face seemed to pale under the cobalt gaze of the Rowdy Ruff boy.

"Hey Jamie."

"B-boomer. What-what are you doing here?" he asked, bracing himself as best he could from whatever the boyfriend of the girl he kissed might do.

"I'm picking up Bubbles. We're going to the lake for the weekend." Boomer told him, his brow rose in confusion as he saw shock appear over Jamie's face.

"Really."

"Yeah. She seemed a bit stressed from all the studying." Boomer then folded his arms over his chest as he frowned at the college boy. "I hate to ask, but why aren't you studying with Bubbles. She said you two had plans."

Jamie shuffled uncomfortably and tried to move around Boomer. "Plans change."

Boomer caught his arm as he tried to walk away and gave it a light squeeze. He wasn't about to let the guy go without an answer. "Hey."

"You're her boyfriend. Why are you worried about the time I'm not spending with your girlfriend?" He pulled hard against Boomer, only to lose his balance and trip over his own feet and drop his books. With a groan and glare thrown at Boomer, he bent down so eh could gather his things. "I'd thought you'd be glad, I wasn't spending time with her."

Smart ass, Boomer thought finding his dislike for him growing, but this time he had a valid reason. "That doesn't mean I like it that you're hurting her feelings."

"I'm hurting her feelings?" The incredulity in his voice had him looking up at Boomer with wide eyes. He then scoffed and turned his head away and stood up with his books. "You know, the world doesn't revolve around Bubbles. As much as you'd like to think it is, it doesn't. And it's not fair to me, or anyone else for that matter, to have to pretend that it does just for the sake of not hurting her feelings."

Boomer bristled at the comment, but before he could say anything his phone rang. As his attention was diverted, Jamie left the lobby. He didn't want to provoke Boomer, but knowing that Bubbles hadn't told him about their kiss and was now going away with him for the weekend stung. He had the feeling she was trying to apply to get over by getting under clause, and that just didn't sit well with him. However from what he knew of Bubbles, she wasn't that shallow. That, and based on talking with Boomer and the lack of a broken jaw, he seemed to not know that he'd kissed Bubbles. Maybe he should've told him that he kissed her.

Jamie immediately shook his head as he banished the thought from his head. It wasn't his place to say, but it also wasn't his place to kiss Bubbles either. What he needed to do was focus on his midterms in the coming two weeks.

Back in the lobby, Boomer answered his phone and was a bit surprised to see that it was Brick calling. "What?"

"Hello to you too. Listen, before your get your boxers in a punch, I want to talk to you about something important." Brick said.

"I'm going away with Bubbles for the weekend, can't it wait." Boomer sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"It can't, Boomer. It's about…H.I.M." There was no beating around the bush about this.

There was an icy chill that went down Boomer's spine at the mention of their mother. "What about H.I.M? He's dead."

"Yes, but I've had—am having dreams and—."

"Brick, you're about to be a dad!" Boomer cut him off, his voice rising. "You're just anxious because you don't know what you're getting into."

"Hey!" Brick yelled through the phone. "I get that you're scared—."

"I'm not scared."

"You are. I get it. I do, Boomer. I'm…scared. More so because, I have a son coming. Can you understand that? He's going to be much younger and less capable of defending himself than we were when H.I.M started abusing us." Brick told him. "I just want to protect him, even from myself."

Boomer wanted to continue to believe that H.I.M was gone, because he knew that H.I.M was gone. That week in the hospital puking black bile and having fevers was proof that H.I.M was gone. It was the last of him being expelled from them. Further proof was of that was Blossom hacking up the same black bile for three days. If he wasn't; Boomer didn't wasn't to think about a wasn't. "You're only thinking about this because he got in your head and—."

"Imagine what he could've made you to Bubbles." Brick snapped at him in a low voice.

"I don't have to, because he's dead. You made sure of that, so why are we having this conversation?"

There was a grumbling on the other side of the phone that let Boomer know that Brick was exhaling smoke if not fire from his end of the call. "We're having it because I want to be sure before my son is put at risk. Don't wuss out on me, Boomer."

Boomer ground his teeth in his mouth, and closed his eyes against the near crippling fear that was slowly consuming him. "Bubbles and I are having a mini vacation. I'll be back Sunday night."

"Boomer, you—!"

The youngest Rowdy Ruff boy hung up before his brother could say anymore. Raising his hands over his head, he took a deep sobering breath and closed his eyes. "Boomer?"

When he opened his eyes, he saw Bubbles standing in the lobby looking at him with worried eyes. "Hey."

She walked up to him and hesitantly placed her hand on his chest and breathed heavily. She felt just the tiniest bit guilty for touching him without him knowing about the kiss. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, umm…are you packed?" Boomer asked.

Looking into his eyes, she saw the agitation and the frustration burning in his deep blue eyes. "Boomer?"

"I reserved a cabin by the lake for us. It's going to be fun." He dropped his arms and smiled at her. "I hope you have warm clothes packed."

It was clear that something was terribly wrong with Boomer. It was clear by the tenseness of his body, the focus on their trip, and the shaky smile he wore on his face. He was terrified, but the only thing she could think off that would have him so afraid was gone. There was no way. Taking a deep breath, she took a step back and turned in the direction of her dorm room. "Do you think it's going to be really cold?"

Boomer appreciated her going along with his wanting to not think about his terror. Unbeknownst to him, she was taking advantage of this as a reason to not tell him about the kiss she and Jamie had—no matter how one sided it was. Together the two went up to her dorm to finishing packing for their mini vacation.

"I'm going to kill him." Brick growled out with an exhale of smoke. Suddenly a hand was fanning the dark cloud from in front of his face. "B-Blossom."

"No smoking, but what's wrong?" Blossom said as she sat beside Brick on the bench where he waited for her after their last classes.

Brick glanced at Blossom, wondering if he should tell her all his concerns. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I needed to talk to Boomer about…something important."

"What?" she asked.

Brick turned to look at her and sighed heavily. "Ruff stuff."

"Brick," she said moving closer to him, as much as her belly could allow. "I know something is wrong." She got a snorting laugh in response to that. "You're not sleeping, and if you are, you're having nightmares."

There was no lying when Blossom stared at him like that. Her probing look was intense—Brick once thought it to be invasive. There was no doubt that their little lump would quake and fall to pieces under her "Mom Glare". Brick wasn't quaking, but he was feeling the pressure of it just a bit. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "Could you save the 'spill your guts or else, Mister' glare for when the little guy gets here? He's going to deserve it a lot more than me, especially with Butch as his uncle."

"Don't forget Buttercup as his aunt." Blossom said with a smile and tried to scoot closer. Unfortunately, her belly wouldn't allow it. "I can't wait till he's here. I kind of miss being able to sit on your lap."

"That's not to say you haven't. It'll just be easier." Brick told her and he maneuvered her to sit on his lap like she wanted. He couldn't fully circle his arms around her, so he settled for his hands cradling his son through her belly. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yeah?"

Brick pressed his forehead against her shoulder and exhaled a warm breath. "In my dreams, I see our son." Blossom started to smile, but it fell when Brick continued. "He's afraid. Something is trying to hurt him, but I don't know what it is. I can't protect him. It's like when we kids and…H.I.M beat us."

"Are you worried that he's back?" Blossom asked, easily switching into the Power Puff leader that she was.

"I don't know. Hence, why I need Boomer to quit pussyfooting." Brick then came to realize something and stood up, after carefully setting Blossom on her feet. "That asshole's on campus. I was going to let him get a few hits in for missing our fight, but that wuss—."

"Brick!"

"I'll be right back." He saw before a walked a few steps and took off into the air, so that he could find his brother and hopefully beat some sense into him.

Blossom sighed from where she was and rubbed her back. "Boys. No matter how old they get, but boys will be boys."

Brick could see almost everything on campus from his position in the sky, so he was see his yellow bellied brother come out of the dorms with Bubbles beside him with a small suitcase. Brick wanted to come down like missile, but there were too many people around. His dumb brother just got lucky as he watched him get in his car with his girlfriend and ride off to wherever the hell he going with Bubbles. He grumbled in the air as he flew back to where Blossom was.

Butch raised a hand to knock on the door, and braced himself for whatever he came face to face with. When the door opened and the professor was there, Butch's back straightened as he stared at his father in law. "Professor."

"Butch. Buttercup's not here. She's—she's at work. A gym hired her to be a trainer." The professor told him as he folded his arms across his chest. "Was there something you needed?"

"Yeah, to talk to Buttercup." Butch looked away from the professor and ran his hand through his hair. "We had a fight a few days ago and—" He sighed and looked up at the professor. "I made her say things she probably wasn't ready to say." He then started to turn and walk back to his Jeep, when the professor called out to him. "What?"

"Why haven't you spoken with me about this marriage you find yourself in with my daughter?" The professor asked him with a stern, but open expression. "I can't imagine you'd had a chance to really talk about this—."

Butch raised his hands and shook his head. "No, no, no, no, no. You're Buttercup's father not mine. Also, you've never been married, so hell no. There is nothing you can tell me about this."

"As much as that is the point," the professor said, coming from his doorway to stop the married teen from running away, "I'd appreciate you talking to me about this man to man."

"Man to man?" Butch laughed bitterly.

"Yes, man to man, you rebellious, little bastard." The professor yelled at him, and rubbed his hand over his forehead.

"You don't see me as a man." Butch turned on him to say.

"I'm trying to, all right. I want to see that my daughter isn't making a mistake by being married to you."

Butch scoffed and rolled his eyes. "That's not insulting." The sarcasm wasn't to be missed.

"It was easier for me to accept when you were her boyfriend, but not this." The professor stepped closer to Butch and pushed his car door closed so that he could face him. "I don't want her to feel trapped. You shouldn't feel trapped because of a decision made when you were under the influence."

"I love Buttercup. Under the influence or not, I love her. It sucks how we got married, but I never for a second thought it sucked that I was married to her. Not going to regret that." Butch told him as he leaned against his car. "I'll give her the wedding she deserves too. She wants a dress and you to walk her down the aisle. Ugly bridesmaids dresses and cake. Just as soon as Mojo opens up my account."

The professor laughed as he leaned against Butch's truck. "Or you get a job. I heard you're looking into mechanic apprenticeships. I can't imagine you've gone to official trade school for that."

"Are you trying to delay my living with my wife?" Butch asked.

"It's a valid question."

"I can deconstruct—not destroy—any machine and rebuild it. Better than new." Butch told him with a smirk that had the professor raising a brow with a skeptic snort. "I mean it."

The crackle of challenge charged the air and the professor got a smile on his face that made Butch's hackles rise in warning. Something was about to happen and he wasn't sure if he was ready.

Buttercup's first day as a trainer wasn't as strenuous as she believed it to be. She was placed in a beginners' class as she was new. She wanted to be in the advanced class, but the manager wanted her to start slowly. Ease into pushing people, he said with a smile, knowing how tough she could be. Granted only one guy puked, but he had too heavy a breakfast. As evident by the pancakes, bacon, sliced fruit, and coffee that was thrown thankfully in the trashcan outside their workout studio. All in all it wasn't a bad day.

She flew home, and sighed heavily when she saw Butch's truck out front. He was no doubt there to talk, so his presence wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise, was seeing the garage door opened and the two of them working on toy trucks. Horribly broken toys trucks. They two kept looking at the other, occasionally glancing up to see their progress. The only sounds were the tinkering and the screwing of the plastic and metal bits.

"What are you two doing?" Buttercup asked once she was close enough to them both.

She was deftly ignored as the two men continued their tinkering. She took a deep breath and moved to sit on the bumper of the professor's car. In silence she watched as Butch flipped over the truck he was working on and reached for a different tool before he began working with it. His fingers moved with precision and swiftness. The focus he had was unshakeable, and he exuded a confidence that showed in the smirk on his face. This was something that Buttercup noticed about Butch. Whatever he gave his focus too, he gave it whole heartedly and with great enthusiasm. It was applied to everything he did—even her.

A blush came across her face as she thought about how he applied that to her and her body. His fingers seemed to always know her tickle spots and pleasure points. When he kissed her, she swore she could feel it in her toes. He knew just how tight to hold her. Knew how to get her to try something new or to back off when she didn't want to try. He knew when she wanted a hard fuck verses when she wanted a him to make tender love to her. He knew when to push her past her limits. She in turn knew how like liked to rest his head in her lap, and how much pressure to apply to his head when she massages him. She knew he liked to be completely naked when having sex now as he wanted to feel all her skin against his. She even knew how he liked all his sandwiches to be dressed—from every peanut butter and jelly to each bacon lettuce and tomato cucumber slaw sandwich. He could match—she refused to believe he was truly stronger then her—her strength and fighting style. She could handle his crude jokes and blunt demeanor. He was now her husband, and she was his wife.

Buttercup couldn't say she was as upset about it now as she was before. She also wasn't all that angry with Butch about how things turned out. She was angrier that he was forcing the sex issue and being an ass.

She was then pulled out of her thoughts when near simultaneous clacking drew her attention back to the…whatever the professor and Butch were doing. The trucks were put back together and set right side up. They reached for the controllers and began pushing buttons. The professor's truck began moving forward first. Triumph flashed across his face without sparing a glance at Butch. That quickly proved to be his downfall as Butch pushed his truck forward. It quickly caught up and then passed the professor's.

Butch's truck must've crossed some finish line first, because the professor groaned. Butch couldn't contain the smugness that radiated from him as he turned to the professor. "I win."

The professor scowled and stood up from where he was sitting. "You smug, little—what did you do?"

"Boosted the motor, so that the wheels could turn faster. Thus moving faster and beating your ass." Butch told him, while flashing that irritatingly cocky smile his way. "Now you have to pay up."

The professor dropped his controller and stood up, heading inside. "You better make the best of it."

"Will do." Butch said before finally turned to face Buttercup, smile still in place. "Hey."

"Hey. What the hell was that all about?" Buttercup asked as Butch stood up and moved toward her.

"We made a wager. I won." Butch placed his hands on either side of Buttercup and braced himself against the car.

Buttercup took a deep breath and tried to act unaffected by Butch's sudden closeness. "Yeah, I saw that, but that were you two betting against?"

Butch's lower body pressed against Buttercup, so she could feel his cock against her. He wasn't hard, but that was beside the point. "Butch, quit it. I'm still mad at you, so forget about trying to get any from me." She pushed against his chest and got up from the car's bumper.

"I wasn't doing anything."

"You were teasing, and I don't appreciate it." She sighed as she made her way inside, intent on taking a shower. She ignored Butch following closely behind her.

"How was your first day on the job?" he asked her.

Buttercup was making her way up the stairs with Butch still on her heels. "It was fine. No one cried if that's what you're asking." She unzipped her workout jacket and took it off only to drop it in the hamper right by her door. Butch stayed in her doorway and watched as she grabbed a fresh pair of undies and a towel. "I'm going to shower." She moved around him and quickly retreated to the bathroom. The door was closed deftly in Butch's face.

Butch placed his hands against the door and rested his forehead against the door. "I don't even get to see you naked?"

There was a thump at the door indicating she'd thrown her clothes at the door. Butch pulled back and almost fell threw when the door suddenly opened. Standing before him was Buttercup in all her naked glory. "Happy now, dumb-dumb? Also, you have x-ray vision."

Butch's eyes ran up and down Buttercup's body and gave her an appreciative smile. "Not the same."

Buttercup scoffed, before glancing behind Butch and then slamming the door shut. Butch just barely avoided getting hit in the nose with the door. Turning, he saw the professor seeing him a disapproving glare. "I hope it didn't see what I thought I saw."

"You didn't." Butch told him moving away from the door and toward the professor. "Do I have my spoils?"

"Which garages have you gone to already?"

From the other side of the door, Buttercup listened to Butch list the garages he went to. She sighed as she started the shower and drowned out the rest of the world.

The two-hour drive to Townsville's Little Tokyo area strained. The couple was quiet, letting the music from the radio fill the remaining silence. Bubbles reached over and took Boomer's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. The touch was a comforting one, but did little to reassure Bubbles of her own conflicted feelings. After the long drive, the two of them settled into their rented cabin and ate a dinner that consisted of campfire chili potatoes. Boomer even made sure to bring the pickles that Bubbles liked. The night was spent snuggling and catching up on everything that they missed being away from each other. It was a nice night that gave the chance to relax. They didn't think about any problems or secrets they were keeping from one another.

The next morning, Bubbles was awoken to the smell of eggs and bacon. Sitting up in bed, she watched as he turned the bacon over expertly without splashing himself grease. Not that it would bother much, despite being shirtless. Him cooking shirtless with bedhead and the morning light shining on him was a welcome sight for Bubbles. She smiled and wrapped her arms around her knees as she watched him move about the kitchenette. Boomer truly was the sweetest guy. The smile one her face fell as she once again thought of how he didn't know Jamie had kissed her. Even though she didn't react in anyway toward the kiss aside from freezing in shock, she still felt guilty for it.

Boomer had just finished with the bacon when he turned and saw that Bubbles was awake. "Morning. Ready for breakfast?" When she didn't respond, Boomer's brow furrowed at the frown on her face. "Bubbles?"

"Huh? What?"

"Are you okay?" Her boyfriend asked as he plated their breakfast and made his way over to the bed. He sat down and held one plate out to Bubbles.

She took it before setting it aside and looking up at Boomer. She took a deep breath and felt the words that needed to be said come up, and then get stuck in her throat. Bubbles knew she needed to tell Boomer, but this was the first time, they'd spent time together for an extended period for a while. It was totally selfish of her, but she didn't want to ruin her time with Boomer. She'd tell him after this weekend. "Yeah, I'm fine. What did you want to do today?" She then started to tuck into her breakfast as did Boomer and watched him shrug.

"Take a few laps around the lake in the paddle boats?" he suggested.

This time Bubbles really did smile. "Paddle boats? You really want to ride the paddle boats?"

"Sure. Why not?" Boomer chuckled around a mouthful of bacon. "It sounds fun."

"Yeah it does." Bubbles agreed as she took another bite of her eggs and sighed at the fluffiness. "Promise me you'll always make my eggs like this. They're so good."

Boomer bit into his own eggs. "Yeah, and what motivation do you have that will keep me making eggs like this?" he asked with heat burning in his eyes.

A blush filled Bubbles' cheeks and she nearly choked on the bit of bacon in her mouth as she inhaled deeply. "Umm, I…I…don't—."

"I'm sure you can think of something." Boomer teased, as he leaned toward her and placed a kiss on her lips, finding the taste of bacon and eggs there strangely delicious.

Bubbles' blush only deepened and she turned her face away from Boomer. "A year ago, you were a semi-innocent Rowdy Ruff boy with no real dating skills what to speak of. Now look at you. A flirt with absolutely no shame."

Boomer and Bubbles shared a laugh as Boomer took her nearly empty plate and set it aside. He moved over her and pressed a kiss to her neck. "Yeah, maybe, but what shame should I have for loving an angel like you." His body was pressed over hers and then buried his head in her neck, nibbling and kissing the skin that was there.

Bubbles moaned under Boomer's touch, but gently pushed him back. "I thought you wanted to go paddle boating on the lake?"

Boomer blew out a breath and propped his chin in his hand as he looked down at Bubbles. "I guess we can put this off until later."

"Yeah, I guess." Bubbles said with a wane smile. The guilty kiss coming to mind again.

"AHH-Hahahaha!" Bubbles shrieked and laughed as she was hit with splash of icy lake water. "It is on." She turned to look at the cheeky smile on Boomer's face and leaned over to try to splash him. The two of them had been paddling across the lake for the past hour, feeding the ducks and koi fish and playing their game of speaking in as many different languages. That was until he splashed her with lake water.

Boomer was struck with lake water and started laughing as the water battle was waged. Their laughter rang out across the lake and turned out to be very infectious. Other patrons of the lake heard them and couldn't help feeling joy at the young couple playing out on the lake. At one point Bubbles started speaking in a series of raspy clicks and squawks that had Boomer's brow furrowing. Suddenly the ducks that they'd been feeding came and started to attack Boomer.

"Hey, hey, hey!" he laughed as he swatted and tried to shoo the animals away from him.

Bubbles watched Boomer get snapped and jabbed at a while longer before she spoke in duck telling them that she appreciated their help. When they swam away, Boomer turned to the gleeful expression that was on Bubbles' face. Before he could say anything, Bubbles splashed him in the face and giggled loudly. "You should see your face." She laughed at him as she started to peddle again.

Boomer began peddling on his side as he looked at Bubbles. "You speak duck?"

"Yeah," Bubbles sent him a smile. "I can speak to all animals. You know we had a pet squirrel? His name was Bullet."

"A pet squirrel? Cool. Mojo wouldn't allow us to have pets. Not even a fish." Boomer told her somberly. "He didn't like animals being treated as property."

Bubbles nodded her head as she remembered Mojo's debut. He'd mutated all the primates from the zoo and released them onto the city. "Makes sense, but…if you wanted a pet what would you have wanted?

Boomer thought about that for a second, as he never really thought about it before. Once a pet came to mind, he smiled and happily blurted it out. "A pig."

"A pig?"

"Yeah, a pig." He smiled. "I like pigs."

Bubbles chuckled and shook her head at him. "We just had bacon for breakfast. Wouldn't your pet pig get offended?"

Boomer thought more and then nodded. "Yeah, you're right. How about…a chicken?"

"We had eggs for breakfast too."

"But not chicken." Boomer said. "A male chicken. A rooster. Think about it, we wouldn't need an alarm clock ever again."

The two shared a laugh as they went back to the shore. After returning the paddleboat, the two got ice cream and sat on a blanket enjoying the fall afternoon chill. "Is your ability to speak to animals the reason you want to be a vet?"

Bubbles nodded. "Yeah. That and I love animals."

"They're delicious too." Boomer joked only to get a smile and a shove from Bubbles. "I'm kidding. I just hope you don't hold it against me whenever I have a steak or huevos rancheros."

"I might not, but your pet chicken might." Bubbles teased.

Boomer scoffed and shook his head. "Why would my pet chicken Oyakodon hold it against me? He'd be a boy. Boys don't lay eggs."

"Maybe, but he'd be offended for being named after a Japanese dish." Bubbles said as she moved closer to snuggle against him.

Boomer wrapped his arm around Bubbles and gave her a slight squeeze around the shoulders. "It's my favorite. My brothers and I like to panko fry the chicken and scramble the eggs. Our rice is cooked with soy sauce and—what?"

Bubbles was staring up at him with a wide smile and bright eyes. "I've only seen you get excited about food."

"I like food."

"You love it." Bubbles said. "You also love cooking."

"It's a nice hobby." Boomer brushed off, suddenly uncomfortable with this topic of conversation. "I like to cook for me. And for you." He kissed her forehead.

"It's more than a hobby for you Boomie. It's your happy place." Bubbles pulled back and turned to him. "Why don't you want to consider—?"

"Because it's not what I want." He then sighed and looked away from Bubbles. "At least I don't think it is. I just don't know right now, Bubbles. It wasn't something I needed to think about before."

There was no need to voice the question aloud. She knew what he was referring to. His "before" was being confined to the volcano tower with Mojo and his brothers. There weren't many, if any, options available to them. Now he had more than he ever thought he ever would. Some things he was more than sure about like wanting to date Bubbles, and go out on dates and just spend time with her. Other things like what he wanted to do with his life were a slower to unravel mystery.

"You know, most eighteen-year-olds don't know what they're going to do with their lives. It takes time, and from what can you, you have plenty of time." Bubbles said.

Now Boomer felt guilty. Last night, he'd had a nightmare about prom about how Bubbles had yelled at him for not putting their safety before anything else. He also heard a voice in his head, tell him that she would never trust him again. He knew he had to tell her Brick's suspicions, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to accept them as a possible truth. If H.I.M were possibly back who knew how much time any of them really had. "Do you want to head back to the cabin and shower before dinner?"

"Yeah." Bubbles stood and together the two of them folded up their blanket and walked back to the cabin. Once there the two of them were back, Bubbles made her way over to the shower and closed the door behind her. Not long after the sound of the shower running started.

Boomer was just getting the things he needed to get dinner started when Bubbles cracked the door open the to bathroom and peeked her head out. "Boomer, can you reach me my bag?"

She probably wasn't aware of the angle of the mirror and the door, because when Boomer turned in her direction, he could see her entire naked backside. Boomer quickly forgot about making dinner and went to do as Bubbles asked. He grabbed her toiletries bag and made his way over to the bathroom. Rather than just handing her the bag, he pushed the door open and walked in. Bubbles was startled by the suddenness of the action, but didn't have the chance to really think about it as Boomer easily lifted her up and set her on the counter top by the sink and kissed her.

"Boomer," Bubbles gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What…?"

"I'll tell you after." He told her after stepping back and pulling his own shirt off. "I just want—." The second his head was free, Bubbles pulled him close and kissed him.

"Whatever you want tonight, Boomer." He had to tell her something, she might as well tell him what she needed to tell him. It was only fair.

Nothing more was said at the two worked to work Boomer's pants down. Once he was just as naked as she was, he picked her up and walked them to the shower. The steaming water poured over them as they continued to kiss and hold onto each other. Boomer pulled back first from the kiss as he reached for her soap and created a quick lather. Bubbles thought he was going to start with her upper body, so was very surprised when his hands went between her legs. Even thought they were both naked and had touched each other intimately a number of times, she still blushed. His fingers weren't probing as they washed her and he kept his eyes focused on her and smiled when Bubbles' blush ran from her hairline all the way down her chest. He leaned in and kissed her neck, following the trail of the water as it ran down her skin.

When Boomer finished washing Bubbles' most intimate part, he got down onto his knees and lifted one leg so that it rested over his shoulder. As he was leaning in to taste the soon to be once forbidden, she reached down as gripped his head between her hands. Cobalt darted up to look at sky blue and he smiled as he shook her hands off and placed a kiss to her inner thigh. That action alone was enough to make Bubbles jump. She just wasn't sure if it was anticipation or fear. Breaking eye contact first, the youngest Power Puff tilted her head against the damp tile of the shower and tried to relax. When the first touch of Boomer's tongue came onto her, she tensed and accidently dug her fingers into the tile. The sensation of Boomer's tongue between her legs was something akin to electricity going through her. Her body wanted to move in one way, but she didn't want to break away from her boyfriend, least she cause damage to him or the small bathroom they were in.

Boomer himself was focusing on the taste of Bubbles, not noticing the damage she was inflicting on the tilework of the shower. The sweetness was expected with her being the sugar of the group, but also there was something that was just distinctly Bubbles. He couldn't describe it, but knew no other girl would do for him. He delved deeper between her legs, reaching for that place that would bring her the most pleasure. Her pleasure was all he wanted to think about right then. His slightly longer tongue touched on a part that he knew made her sonic scream. When she tensed and inhaled sharply, Boomer knew she was close. She always inhaled like she was doing know when she did her sonic scream—be it in pleasure or anger. Stroking that special place in her a few more times was all it took for Boomer to wring that scream out of Bubbles. The small space of the bathroom made the scream louder and it pierced Boomer's sensitive hearing and he almost dropped her so that he could cover his ears. Normally, they were outside at the orchard or on the rare case in her room, much bigger and better at sound absorption.

Still, he kept a steady hand on her and caught her when she slumped down and wound up awkwardly contorted around Boomer. Her leg was still hiked over his shoulder and her other was bent between her body and Boomer's. She was breathing hard and her face was red and dewy from both her orgasm and the steam from the shower—a shower that was slowly growing cooler the longer they were in there.

"I think we should…dry off, and—and take this to the bed." Boomer suggested as he eased Bubbles' leg from his shoulder.

Bubbles didn't say anything, but she did nod to show she acknowledged him. She sat still while Boomer stood and shut the water off. He grabbed one of her towels and quickly wrapped it around her. She allowed him to pick her up and carry her bridal style to the bed. Once he laid her down on the comforter, Boomer went to his bag and grabbed a few condoms to have within reach. Taking one and putting it on, he urged Bubbles to move onto her stomach and keep her legs closed while her laid on top of her. She turned over her shoulder to look at him as best she could with a slight frown on her face. "Boomer, what?"

"I saw that this position feels like it's deeper in you. Also the different angle makes your orgasm come faster, because I'll be hitting that special spot better." He whispered into her ear. "I think you'll like how it feels."

With his legs on either side of Bubbles, he used his left hand to guide his cock to her core and slowly sunk into her. Bubbles head dropped as Boomer did feel different in her than their typical positions. She felt fuller, like he was touching all of her insides. Boomer put his full weight onto Bubbles and then reached for her hands, entwining their fingers before he pulled out halfway and then pushed back in. The two of them both gasped at the different feelings it invoked.

They were silent as the feelings of being together after their awkward hiatus took over. Nothing escaped their lips but heavy breaths, gasps, and moans. The only other sound in the cabin was the slapping of skin, a sound that somehow seemed louder to Bubbles and the thought of it made her blush, despite the position she was in. She let out an embarrassed squeal that was muffled by her arms and mixed in with a moan of pleasure. It sounded weird to Boomer, and he slowed in his actions so try to look at her face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," her voice was muffled by their arms, with her face buried into them. She lifted it just a bit to turn to Boomer. "It's…It's different from what he usually do."

"You don't like it?" Boomer asked panting heavily. "I can stop." Though I really don't want to, he thought.

"No," she shook her head with another sigh and a moan. "It's just…ahh! It's..mmhmmm…different. AHH!" The beginnings of an orgasm was stirred and Bubbles clenched her hands around Boomer's in reaction to the feeling.

Boomer smiled as he felt Bubbles tighten around him. "You're close." Male pride filled him as he sped up his movements again. He leaned up just a little to give himself more leverage, and smiled when she started clenching around him tightly. Closing his own eyes, he moved instinctually and let the feelings flow over him. When Bubbles came she let out another scream and dragged Boomer to his own. He stayed in her as he came down from the high and carefully pulled out of her. The moment she did, he laid out on his back and breathed out an incredulous laugh. Bubbles curled in on herself and rolled to her side. Boomer turned toward her and placed his arm around her middle.

"Are you okay?" He asked, wondering if he did too much.

Bubbles nodded her head and pulled herself tighter into herself. She closed her eyes and before she knew it, had fallen asleep. Boomer chuckled as he heard her even breathing. He placed a kiss on the back of her head and snuggled close to her. Not long after he too fell asleep.

The things that needed to be said were left unsaid and for the time being forgotten. At least for now.

Brick was staring at Blossom as she slept soundly. Her skin was glistening just a bit from their frenzied sex from just minutes ago. She'd taken three out of four of her midterms already and just had two more to take the next day. He thought she'd have been exhausted taking nearly back to back exams, but she'd surprised him by practically pouncing on him the minute they got home—not that he minded. However, it wasn't the only thing that had her body sweating like it was. She felt hotter than she normally was, if not hotter than he was. She didn't seem bothered like she normally was, but he didn't want to chance it if something else were wrong.

Slipping out of bed, Brick opened the windows to allow the fall chill to cool her and pulled the lighter bed sheet over her. Finding himself hungry, he ventured out of the room unbothered by being naked. Unfortunately, he should've minded, as it wasn't just him and Blossom in the house. No sooner had he opened the fridge, had the front door opened and Butch walked in. It wasn't as if his brother could see him, but still—his brother would see him parading the kitchen buck ass naked. Grabbing the pitcher of iced tea and the leftover dinner if chicken rice and mixed vegetables, he kicked the door closed just in time for Butch to enter the kitchen and catch an eyeful of his naked brother.

"It's a bit early for you to be waltzing around naked isn't it?" Butch asked as he moved around his brother to get into the fridge.

"It's my house." Brick reminded as he heated up his hand, knowing he could warm his food faster and better than the microwave. He walked around so he could sit on the couch, only for Butch to protest loudly by yelling out in the negative. "What?"

"Could you not place your naked ass on the couch where I'm sleeping?" Butch scowled at his brother, only for said scowl to deepen when his brother smirked at him. "What?"

"What makes you think I haven't sat my naked ass on my couch? What makes you think I haven't done anything else on this couch?" Brick said, thought he moved to sit at the dining table.

Butch grimaced, as he got things out to make himself a sandwich. "Is there a real reason you're naked?"

Brick glanced at his way and rose a brow. "Do you have to ask?"

"Should she be having sex that close to birth?" Butch asked as he licked the pickle juice from his fingers. He was about to reach for the turkey when Brick gave him an annoyed look. "What?"

"Don't stick your licked fingers into the lunchmeat." Brick snapped at him. "And Blossom can have sex up until the day she gives birth."

"Are you saying that because it's true or because you know you won't be able to have sex for six weeks?" Butch asked, while rubbing his hands over his pants before grabbing some lunchmeat.

"It's true." Brick said. "Speaking of, have you found a job yet? Not that I mind, since you'll share in the diaper duty."

Butch smirked as he slapped his sandwich together triumphantly. "If you must now, I've had three interviews in the last two days. I won a bet against the professor and he had to write a letter of recommendation for me. He sent it them to all the garages I applied to and the three I interviewed with are top dollar garages."

"Sounds like you'll have a job soon."

"Fingers crossed, that I might just escape diaper duty." Butch chuckled, before getting a bit somber. "Have you talked to Boomer since Friday?"

Brick scowled at the thought of his youngest brother. "No, and he's being a fucking asshat. It's hard to not be pissed. I know why he's avoiding talking about this, but he has to see why I can't avoid talking about this." Brick ran a hand over his loose hair. Its was down his back again, not as long as it used to be, but getting close enough. "He's going to force me to go to the volcano tower."

"Mojo would just love that. Are you going to tell him when your kid is born?" He asked as he bit into his sandwich.

"Like he'd care." Brick grumbled bitterly.

Butch chose not to say anything about the hurt tone in Brick's voice. When he was still staying at the volcano tower, it was clear that Mojo missed Brick. He didn't know for sure at first, but he could tell that Brick missed Mojo. He was just better at distracting himself. The dark-haired Ruff decided he'd only tell Mojo if he was asked. It was more likely that any news about Brick's baby would come from Boomer or the professor. Boomer could never keep his mouth shut when under pressure. The professor would just think Mojo would "like to know". Not wanting to think about those kinds of what ifs, he redirected his train of thought back to the real matter at hand. H.I.M and whether or not he was back.

"Have you had anymore dreams?" Butch asked him.

Brick appreciated the change of subject, even if it was a more serious one. "Thankfully no. I hope it means, it was just paranoia. But I won't know for sure until I talk to the moron. Have you had any dreams?"

Butch shook his head. "You know H.I.M's psycho bullshit doesn't work the same way it does with you and Boomer." His mother preferred to play with his heartstrings usually by causing physical harm to his brothers, usually Boomer. He didn't say it, but he was worried and just a bit afraid of what this could mean. Also, there wasn't just the three of them to worry about anymore. There was Brick and Blossom's baby. Butch dared not think of all that could happen.

"Right." Brick stretched out as much as he could in his chair and groaned. He caught Butch pointedly keeping his eyes away from him and snorted. "Your abstinence has made you a prude."

"I'm not a prude. I just don't want to look at your naked ass any more than I have to." Butch grumbled.

"You need to get laid." Brick told him as he took his meal to his bedroom.

Butch couldn't prevent the scowl the crossed his face as Brick strutted down the hall, ass on full display. It was totally immature, Butch couldn't resist zapping his brother in the ass with his laser vision. To his credit, Brick didn't jump like Butch wanted him to. His butt did however clench from the stress.

Blossom had just finished her second to last midterm when she felt warm all over her body. It was a bit like the day before when she…pounced on Brick, but somehow different. The sensation didn't seem centered in her core like before. It felt higher in her belly, where the baby was. She hoped it was just him reacting to the weather. It was getting cooler as they progressed further into fall. Either way, she had to focus on her next midterm. It was with that spinster for her child development class. Blossom knew she was in for a written portion and a practical. The practical was what she was concerned as it involved a real-life scenario.

Walking to into the class she took a deep breath before clearing her throat and setting her bag down at one of the desks. The English woman shuffled her papers and rearranged her papers before standing up and walking toward her with a copy of the exam. She refrained from slapping it down and folded her arms across her chest. "Fifty questions. One hour. The practical will also be an hour. You'd do well to not dawdle."

Blossom nodded and began to take her exam. The first thing she did was open the test and look at the last page. Sure enough there were fifty questions as Professor Hughes said. What she didn't say was that there were short answer questions mixed in with the multiple choice. Blossom rolled her eyes at the small jab. It wouldn't be nearly enough to make her fail. Turning back to the beginning of the exam. The questions were as she expected them to be and there was no doubt she'd make an A. She'd show Professor Hughes that being a teenaged mother would not be a hinderance.

All throughout her exam, the heat she felt started to grow and she was starting a sweat a little. She shifted in her seat and took a deep breath.

"Is there something wrong, Miss Utonium?" Hughes asked with a raised brow.

Blossom glanced up and frowned. "No, just a little warm is all." She didn't want to want give the hag any reason to not let her finish her exam. Especially when she was almost done with the written part, and with almost fifteen minutes to spare. She used five minutes of that time to double check her answers. Once she was satisfied, she stood up only to feel a warm spot erupt in the center of her belly. She inhaled

Professor Hughes glanced up and took the exam from Blossom. She gave it a cursory glance and was a bit surprised that she'd answered every question. Sniffing, she stood up and placed Blossom's exam in her bag. "Impressive Miss Utonium. Now onto the practical portion of the exam."

Blossom nodded her head and wiped a hand over her skin. More sweat was gathering on her skin from the increasing heat. "Right." She pressed a hand to her back and breathed deeply.

"Something troubling you Blossom?" Professor Hughes asked as she turned over her shoulder.

Blossom waited for the slight discomfort to subside and then shook her head. "No, I'm fine." She followed after the professor to the room where she wanted the practical to be done. It looked like a lab, but the room had carpeted floors, cribs, and a child changing station.

"For this part of the exam, you'll be demonstrating the basics when I ask." Professor Hughes informed her. "Are you ready?"

Blossom nodded while wiping more sweat from her brow. Professor Hughes rose a brow, but didn't say anything regarding her student. "Demonstration the proper way to cradle a child."

Blossom did as she was asked with the doll provided, wistfully thinking of her child that she'd soon hold in her arms. A surge of warmth filled her belly as she thought of him.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Professor Hughes taking notes. "Demonstrate how you'd change a diaper."

Blossom carefully laid the realistic baby doll on the changing table and went about the process of exchanging the dirty diaper for a clean one. Professor Hughes continued taking notes, not giving anything away. She instructed Blossom through a few more tasks, only speaking to give Blossom a direction and ask a question about a hypothetical situation. The longer the process went, the warmer Blossom began to feel. She was sure her face was flushed by now with her rising internal heat.

"Your face is red."

"I'm nearly nine months pregnant and the room is warm. Of course, my face is red." Blossom quipped, taking a deep breath. "What's next?"

Professor Hughes looked down at her sheet, eyes widening when she saw there was nothing else to test her on. "The midterm is finished. Your grade will be posted along with the other grades after the other students have taken their midterm. Unless you want that expediated as well."

Blossom shook her head and let out a breath. "You know you don't win by treating me this way." She reached for her bag and then started to leave the room. "Now if you'll excuse me." She pulled her phone out of her bag and checked for messages. There was a message from Brick saying she could call Butch to bring her home. With her midterms finished, there wasn't a reason for her to be on campus anymore. She wanted to wait for Brick, but he still had classes until three. That and she was burning up. She wanted to take a cold bath desperately.

She called Butch and waited by the university center for him to show up. When his Jeep came into view, Blossom stood up from the bench she was sitting on and let him help her into car. She turned the air to cool on full blast and fanned herself. Butch glanced at Blossom with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just started running too warm." She panted. "And I'm getting hotter. Roll the windows down?"

Butch did just that while keeping a careful eye on Blossom as she rubbed her belly. "Want to stop and get ice cream?"

"There's ice cream at home." Blossom reminded him, only to pause and turn to Butch with a raised brow. "Isn't there?"

Butch didn't give that an answer as he drove in toward the inner town. "Are you finished with midterms?"

"Yeah, I just took my last one today." Blossom sighed and shifted in her place. And moved to take her jacket off. "It's so hot."

"Do you want me to call Brick?" He asked, wondering how worried he should be for Blossom right now. He didn't have the same heat resistance as his brother to deal with whatever temperature related issue was about to happen.

Blossom just shook her head and breathed slowly. "No, just—," her eyes widened and she tried to come to terms with what might've just happened.

"Just? Just what?" Butch made the turn into the parking lot of the ice cream parlor, driving much more carefully as his attention was divided between finding a parking spot and making sure Blossom was okay.

"I—I think…oh boy…"

"WHAT?!" Butch shouted, as he looked down over at her and caught her looking down. "Did you just piss yourself?"

"No." she whispered. "Call Brick."

"Because you pissed yourself?" Butch repeated more for his own sanity than anything else. If he heard what really happened, he was sure to lose his mind and not be able to help in the way Blossom needed. Brick would kill him if anything happened to Blossom, because he couldn't hold his shit together.

"I didn't piss myself. My—."

"Blossom, please don't say it." Butch stopped the truck where it was, not caring about the traffic building around him, or the horns being honked at him.

The elder Power Puff girl raised her eyes to her brother in law and noticed his blanched face. "Don't you freak out on me! Please don't."

"I'm not freaking out!" he said as he knew that to be the complete opposite.

"You are." Blossom said in a small voice. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat. The heat was growing and making her start to pant. "I want you to call Brick. While I call the professor. After you talk with Brick, drive me to hospital."

"Shouldn't I get you to the hospital now? Like right now?" Butch asked, anxiety building in his gut.

Blossom shook her head. "Call Brick first. You're freaking out."

"I'm not freaking out!"

"Call Brick." She said while reaching for her own phone and dialing up the professor. The phone rang all of three times before the call picked up. "Hi daddy."

"Hi Blossom. Is everything all right?" he asked knowing one of two things could be happening right now. The girls only referred to him as "daddy" on special occasions.

Before Blossom could answer, she heard a thud and turned to Butch just in time to see him slump forward and faint. She could just make out Brick on the other end of the call yelling for his brother and Blossom. "Umm, can you meet us at the Sprinkles and More on Jenkins and Main?"

"Blossom, are you going into labor?" The professor asked with a professionalism that came with being her doctor for the past thirteen years.

"Yeah, my water broke I think five minutes ago, and Butch fainted."

"Butch? Where's Brick?"

"In class. I finished my midterm and Butch was—."

"Tell me when I get there to take you to the hospital." He interrupted. "Have contractions started yet?"

"No." She said. "I've just been feeling very warm and hot. I had flashed yesterday and thought it was just that today."

"I'm on my way." He promised her. "When your contractions do start, call me when if I'm not there by then and start keeping time."

"Okay." She said in a small voice. Her phone beeped and she saw Brick's name flash across her screen. "I have to go, it's Brick."

"All right. See you soon." He then hung up and allowed for Blossom to answer Brick's call.

"What the fuck is going on?" he yelled worry and aggravation clear in his tone.

Glancing at her currently unconscious brother in law before looking down at the growing puddle at her feet, she couldn't help the burst of incredulous laughter that spilled from her lips. "Umm…Butch fainted because me water broke."

It's finally happening. Baby Red is coming, and with so much that happened this chapter. Sweet Mother of Monkey Milk. I hope you guys like it.

Until Next Time