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

Chapter Twenty-Four: Coming Together As A Family Part 1

"Ahh!" Buttercup moaned as Butch moved within her under the cover of semidarkness in her room.

"Shh." He whispered against her lips before kissing her softly. "You don't want your dad coming in here do you?" When the professor went to bed, Butch waited on the couch in the living room listening for the deeper snores proving sound sleep. He floated up to her room, bypassing the squeaky steps and creaky spots under the carpeted floors. When he stood outside of Buttercup's room, he opened her door, wincing when it creaked, and listened for anything signaling the professor rousing awake. It was after he heard absolutely nothing that he eased himself into her room and under her blankets. Blankets that were now bunched at their hips and sliding further down with each thrust he made into her.

Buttercup tried to keep quiet, but she truly couldn't help herself when Butch was pulling out slow as he was and thrusting back in hard and fast. When she gasped the first time, she quickly bit her lip and muffled the sounds deep in her throat. However, as the pleasure built it became harder for her to hold her voice. "No, but Butch…ahh ah!" she gasped when Butch tilted his hips in just the right way to hit her g-spot.

Butch chuckled huskily at her and stopped his motions altogether. "If you can't be quiet, then maybe we should stop."

Buttercup's legs tightened around Butch's hips when he began to pull out. He glanced down at where they were joined and smirked at her. Seeing the mirth on his face made her scowl, but the effect was dampened by her flushed skin and near coital sheen of sweat. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I wouldn't?" he challenged, reaching down to bring her leg up over his shoulder. The motion spread her wider and then he pushed back in just as slowly. The hard planes of his cock slid wonderfully against her wet heat and had them both letting out low groans of pleasure.

"Butch!" she practically growled as she propped herself up on her elbows to reach for his shoulder unoccupied by her leg. "Please don't stop."

Butch's smirk infuriated her as he kept up a slow push and pull motion. "Are you sure you can be quiet?"

"I'll get loud if you stop." She threatened him and tightened her inner muscles around him. It gave her a great sense of pride as a woman when his eyes fluttered closed and his nostrils flared with his deep exhale. His hand also tightened on her leg while he leaned forward with her leg still over his shoulder. Buttercup felt a slight strain in her hamstring but ignored it when Butch starting his motions again. "Oh yes."

Butch grunted in agreement as he slowly sped up the circular motion of his hips against hers. His arm not supporting her leg was wrapped around her waist and pulling her against him. There was no more teasing as he pushed her body past its limits with his own. Sex with Buttercup had never felt so good. Since returned from Vegas, each sexual experience he had with Buttercup was a cherished one. From every quickie stolen in the shower after their respective messy jobs to the slow deep lovemaking sessions that had lingering moments of intimacy not involving actual sex. Hell, he even dared the paternal wrath of the professor just to have these moments with his wife.

When his wife let out a rather loud moan of pleasure, Butch leaned forward and swallowed the sound in a kiss. It was deep and full of carnality. His tongue danced and pushed against Buttercup's while his hips worked harder and went faster. Butch could feel the tightening of Buttercup's core around him as she got closer to her climax. Her wet arousal coated their thighs as it spilled from her with each of his thrusts. "Butch," she tried to murmur against his mouth despite it being practically merged with her own. "Butch!"

Butch dropped her leg from his shoulder and sat up, pulling her with him. "That's right. Say my name Buttercup. Come on. Say it!" He thrust up into her from below as she sat in his lap.

"I…I thought you wanted me to be quiet." She let out a breathless laugh against his slick skin.

In response to her being a smart ass, he pulled his hand away and brought it down at smack against the firm flesh of her behind. The sound echoed in her room and disrupted their rhythm, but only momentarily. "I want you to say my name when you come, Cupcake." The vigorous pace he was setting increased as he practically allowed for Buttercup to bounce atop his cock.

Fingers digging into the skin of his shoulders, she met him thrust for thrust, loving the physical sensations he stirred in her. Buttercup couldn't believe she almost lost this physical connection with Butch. At first, she thought it was just the tingles from the Chemical X in their blood. When that was gone the two relied on their mutual love for one another to hold them together. When she felt that was threatened, she wasn't sure of what she had that could hold Butch to her. Thankfully he was able to prove that their love was just as strong as they were. That knowledge made the sex so much better between them. Compared to when they were just fuck buddies, this marriage of theirs was significantly better.

Climax approaching, she held tighter to Butch and pressed her face to the side of his, lips against his ear. "Butch." She gasped. "Butch! Butch!" The coil in her belly tightened until finally, it snapped, drawing the beginnings of a scream from her throat.

"Fuck!" Butch clamped a hand over her mouth as he came, teeth digging into the juncture between her neck and shoulder. For a moment everything was frozen in time, suspended in the height of coital bliss, and then it began to move forward. Panting against each other's skin, Butch released his wife from her teeth and grip and allowed her to gently fall back against her bed. As he slid out of her, he pulled the condom off and haphazardly threw it over the side of the bed. He'd grab it in the morning and throw it away where the professor wouldn't see. The last thing he needed was for the professor to see evidence of them having sex. It was mortifying enough when Mojo found out.

Buttercup's husband laid beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. She moaned softly at the contact, skin feeling tingly, almost too warm, and sensitive. Still, she didn't stop him from running his fingers up her side until resting where her neck met her shoulder. The spot he graced his fingers over stung and she winced.

"Sorry. I might've left a mark." Though he apologized, he sounded the least apologetic about it.

The sound she made was drowsy and followed by a yawn, she rolled over to that she was facing him, obscuring the love bite from view. She wrapped an arm around his waist while Butch's went around her shoulders. "You better hope…" another yawn broke through her lips. "…the professor doesn't catch you naked in here. Married or not, he'll…he'll…"

Butch chuckled smugly at his male prowess and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Go to sleep Cupcake."

Jade green eyes were already closing as she snuggled closer to her husband's body. Her breathing seemed to even out, signaling sleep when she sighed at the feel of Butch running his fingers through her hair. "Butch," she sighed, "try to get some sleep tonight."

His stroking fingers paused for a brief second before starting up its self-soothing motion again. "What do you mean try? I've been sleeping."

"Not as much as you used to," Buttercup mumbled, pressing her face against his chest. "Are you having nightmares?"

Part of him wanted to tell her that he wasn't having them, but he remembered that one evening in the cabin. It was when they weren't sure of where they stood, and Buttercup threw down the gauntlet. Either make up his mind or stop fucking with her—physically and emotionally. Butch then let it all out. His feelings about Buttercup, about his mother, everything. After that, she just held him in her arms and said nothing. He didn't think she'd do any different now. "I think I am. There's nothing but darkness around me. I can't see anything, but I can hear. Hear Brick and Boomer getting tortured. You and your sisters screaming. Coal…Coal crying."

Buttercup's arm tightened around Butch as he was lost in his nightmare while awake.

"The worst part is not being able to do anything. I'm held down; can't move; can't fight. I'm helpless." Butch clenched his hand into a fist against Buttercup's back. "I hate feeling helpless."

Opening her sleep heavy eyes, she leaned up and looked at Butch's face, hardened by his anger with himself. She brought her hand up and cupped his sharp jaw. He looked her way and sighed. "You know, you're never helpless. Not with me by your side."

The tension left Butch's body at her words and he reached up to grab her hand. "For better and for worst were some of our vows, right?"

"If Elvis saying, 'whether you look like an angel or are a devil in disguise' counts," Buttercup told him honestly, and a bit ruefully.

Pulling Buttercup against his chest, he hugged her close and kissed her forehead. "Probably not, but I promise you that I'll give you the dream wedding you want. I'll even write my own vows."

"I'd like that." Buttercup said before remembering that Butch's sleepless nights were the current issue. "Either way, I'll stand with you, Butch. I love you too much to let anything happen to you. Also, I'm stronger than you."

That brought a chuckle out Butch, lightening the mood considerably. "That's bullshit and you know it."

The two laughed before quieting and succumbing to sleep.

The next morning the professor said nothing about the discarded blankets and pillow on the couch. If he had to guess, Butch was up in Buttercup's room. He wasn't an idiot to think that they weren't having sex, however, he hoped they were being responsible. Meandering into the kitchen for something resembling breakfast was brought out of his search by the home line ringing. Wondering who could be calling so early in the morning, he forewent his breakfast to answer.

"Utonium residence, Professor Utonium speaking." He answered patiently.

There was a heavy and gruff sigh that came from the other side of the line. "Hello, professor."

"Mojo? Is there something wrong?" Why else would the chimp call him so early in the morning?

There was a beat of silence before some unintelligible grumbled was heard on the other side. Whatever was bothering Mojo, he obviously wasn't happy to have to reach out to the professor. When he did speak it was in such a rush that the professor had to ask him to repeat himself. "Is it possible to hold the Thanksgiving dinner at your home? The tower isn't very…welcoming."

"O-of course. This is very unexpected of you." The professor told him as he leaned against the counter. Above him, he heard some thumping and moving about, drawing his attention upward. Buttercup or Butch must be awake, he thought.

"Yes, I know. Try not to make such a big deal of it." The chimp grumbled.

The professor listened for more movement from upstairs. There was more movement that eventually led to the showers and the sound of water running rumbled through the house. "May I at least ask what brought this on?"

"Do I need a reason to host a dinner?" Mojo retorted, arguably uncomfortable.

If it was anyone other than Mojo, the professor wouldn't probe. "It was merely a question. Will you be cooking here or bringing it in?"

"It'll be easier to cook in your home. A fresher meal will go over better." Mojo told him. "Do you think you can convince everyone to come?"

Buttercup had just come into the kitchen and wearing an oversized long-sleeved black shirt with green decals on the left breast. She went to the cabinet to grab a bowl for her cereal. "Morning."

"Morning…" he noticed just barely under the collar of her shirt that there were the beginnings of a hickey appearing. "…sweetie." He sent a glare upward to the shower and scowled more annoyed than anything else.

Buttercup not aware that the evidence of her long night with Butch showing went about making her breakfast. When she sat at the table in the breakfast nook, she tucked into her breakfast before finally noticing his scrutiny. "What?"

Remembering that Mojo was on the line, he shook his head and turned his attention back to the other conversation. "I'm sure you won't need to convince the boys to come."

"It's…it's not the boys I'm concerned about." Mojo nearly mumbled.

"Oh…Oh." The professor said before clearing his throat and turned slightly away from Buttercup. "Are you sure?"

"No, but it's not for my benefit. Just let them know that dinner will be your home." The call ended with a harsh click. The professor stared at the phone with a raised brow and put it back on its receiver. He then went about fixing his own breakfast never minding that Buttercup was watching him.

"What was that all about?"

"Making plans for the holidays." The professor answered. Deciding to make oatmeal for himself, he set a small pot to bowl on the stove.

Buttercup rose a brow and stirred her cereal. "With Mojo?"

And there goes the resistance, the weary father thought as that rebellious streak in his second daughter reared its head. "He's family."

"The boys' family." She retorted.

The professor poured in his desired amount of oats and brought the boil to a simmer. "You're married to one of those boys and your sister has a baby with another. Point being Mojo is just as much your family as he is theirs."

The thought that never occurred to Buttercup struck her like lightning and had her sitting straighter. When the shock wore off, she slumped over her bowl of cereal and grumbled. "What does he want anyway?"

"To have dinner with everyone." The professor said while stirring his oatmeal. "It's not an unusual request."

"What's not an unusual request?" Butch asked as he came into the kitchen drying his hair with a towel. He took an apple from the bowl on the counter and took a large bite.

The professor turned to his son in law and watched him sit beside Buttercup and place a kiss on her cheek. "Mind the public displays of affection while in my presence."

Butch chuckled and kissed Buttercup one more time before scooting away from her. "Fine. So, what were you guys talking about before I got here?"

"Mojo wants to host Thanksgiving dinner." Buttercup bit out as she put a large spoonful of cereal in her mouth. She crunched irritably before swallowing and scooping another mouthful of cereal up. "Here. With everyone."

Butch's brow rose and he turned to look at the professor. From his place at the stove stirring his oatmeal the professor nodded. "Huh? I hope he makes his chocolate peanut butter banana cake."

His reaction to the news was so much better than Buttercup's. "Is that all you're worried about? A cake?"

"If you ever had a bit of that cake, you'd want him to bake it too," Butch said seeing no reason to find fault with the request. When he turned to Buttercup and saw her staring at him with a sassy disbelieving look, he shrugged. "What?"

"Nothing." She said before bringing her bowl up to her lips and drinking the milk. She then stood up and dumped her bowl in the sink. Butch idly thought of how much Mojo would fret if one of his brothers left a dirty bowl in the sink as she did. He then watched as she made her way back upstairs.

The professor poured his oatmeal into a bowl and finished fixing it up with honey, milk, and walnuts. He then sat across from Butch and shook his head. "That girl can be so stubborn."

"Yeah, but I love her for it," Butch said as he took another bite of his apple. "Does Mojo really want to have dinner here?"

"That's what he said, and he asked that we not make a big deal about this." The professor told him, before sparing a glance at the stairs. "I don't think Blossom and Bubbles will need much convincing, but Buttercup…"

"I'll soften Buttercup up," Butch promised, though he knew he had his work cut out for him. If anything, he hoped the promise of a great meal will help in convincing her it won't be a bad idea.

Mojo got off the phone with the professor and sighed. While asking wasn't as painful to do as he thought, he still felt awkward about it. "Curses."

"What are you grumbling about now?" Boomer asked as he came down to get ready for the day. He'd blessedly had the day off and wouldn't have to put up with Alice's bitchiness. Ever since Boomer told her to back off, she's been snarky and making biting comments about every little thing. It was annoying the living fuck out of him.

"Nothing. Just making plans." He turned to his son and tried to smile at him. "Come to the grocery store with me today?"

Boomer cringed as he remembered the last outing to the store with Mojo. "Do I have to?"

"I would like you to," Mojo told him as he turned to the counter with the grocery list. "It's for Thanksgiving dinner. We'll be having it at the Utonium home this year."

"Huh? Wait…what? Why?" Boomer was now made suspicious. For a moment, he wondered if Mojo was plotting again.

The former simian villain turned away from his youngest and snorted. He was having the same conversation from just a few minutes ago all over again. "Do not make this more of a spectacle than it needs to be. It's just a family dinner."

"That we're having at the Utonium house, where Butch lives with his wife? Will Brick, Blossom, and Coal be there too?" His slow questioning was clearly getting on Mojo's nerves as he grabbed his list and began to make his way to his room. Boomer turned to look at his retreating back. "I'm just asking because it's weird for you to want to be around the girls."

Mojo scowled and looked over his shoulder at Boomer. "It's just a damn a dinner! Will you help me with grocery shopping or not?"

"I-I'll come. Just let me get my…umm things." He then made his way up the stairs to his room. The first thing he did when he opened the door was to locate his phone. Sitting amongst his strew about blankets, he grabbed it a began to text his brothers about Mojo's plans.

Mojo is planning to have Thanksgiving dinner at the professor's house.

Butch was the first one to respond saying he just found out from the professor.

Yeah, I've got to convince Buttercup to be nice.

Right. As if your crabby ass wife can ever be described as nice. Brick texted back.

Fuck you.

GUYS, what about Mojo? Do you think he's plotting something?

Boomer, he hasn't "plotted" in fucking forever. Brick continued as if Butch hadn't responded. Also, it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Now Boomer's suspicion turned to concern. Before the rebound, Brick was usually braced for a fight when it came to doing with anything Mojo. Now, Brick seemed to come over every day to the tower. Usually, he found him on the couch with Mojo watching TV, once Brick was cooking. Another time they were eating takeout in comfortable silence.

"Boomer! Are you coming or not?" Mojo yelled from downstairs.

"Coming!" He grabbed his keys and wallet and slipped on his shoes in record time before floating down the stairs. If he tried to walk while texting, he was likely to fall down the stairs. It happened once much to his brothers' humor. Mojo was standing at the bottom of the stairs arms folded and scowl locked firmly in place. When Boomer took notice, he stashed his phone in his pocket and managed to smile sheepishly at his dad. "Sorry."

Seeing Boomer look so innocent—especially when he was anything but, like his brothers—made Mojo's scowl soften a bit. He was reminded of the little boy his son used to be. How all three of his sons used to be little boys that were so much trouble but loved him all the same. He was their world much like they were his. Feeding them. Clothing them. Wreaking havoc over Townsville with them. Celebrating holidays and birthdays with them. Raising them. Most parents got eighteen years to raise their offspring. Mojo only had twelve. Eleven if not counting the year the boys were in H.I.M's custody—and he's only now knowing what horrible things that demon put them through. Seeing that smile on his face reminded him why he was putting himself in such an awkward position with the upcoming dinner. He needed his sons to smile like they used to. Especially Brick. He can't remember the last time he saw his eldest smile.

"Let's get going. I don't want to have to fight off some old croon of a woman for gravy mix."

"Again." Boomer reminded him with a small chuckle.

Mojo rolled his eyes, annoyed with the memory of that bitty that nearly "went ape" on as his sons described it. She'd come from out of nowhere and plucked the last packet of gravy from his hands. "She shouldn't have offered me a banana. It was highly insulting."

"I bet."

Half an hour later, Mojo and Boomer were at the store, having a much easier time grabbing what they needed than a few years prior. However, Boomer was scrutinizing every item that Mojo picked up while adding his own items to the basket. After a while, he couldn't hold onto his query and just came out and asked, "Are we really just having dinner?"

"Yes," Mojo said while they were looking over the turkeys. Since he'd be feeding more than four people, he had to find a larger bird.

Boomer leaning on the basket look over at the turkeys and blinked once to activate his x-ray vision. It made for finding the best bird faster and saw the perfect one in the far corner of the open freezer. Walking around the basket, he leaned over into the freezer and easily moved the other turkeys out of the way to grab the one that would be best suited for the dinner. "It's just this is kind of unexpected. Of you, I mean." He managed to balance three turkeys in one hand and grab the other easily. "You're not usually this…willing to be social. Especially when it comes to the girls."

Boomer carefully placed the other three turkeys back while keeping the good turkey under his arm. When he turned to Mojo after placing their turkey in the basket, he saw his father had already begun walking away from him down to the produce section. Boomer carefully chased after him, not wanting him to get into another grocery fight with an old lady. Mojo fortunately was only looking at the husks of corn.

"Dad?"

"How are you three doing?" Mojo asked, without looking at his son. "I hardly know anything because you three don't—or rather won't tell me anything."

"We're fine." Boomer said dropping his suddenly clouded over blue eyes. "Really."

This time Mojo turned to Boomer with a furrowed brow and frown lines appearing deeper than normal. "Don't lie to me. I've had enough of you three lying to me!"

His voice had raised considerably and ended in a screech that drew the attention of shoppers nearby. Boomer looked up and watched as people quickly moved away. For the few people that lingered just a little too long, he glared and sent then scuttling away in fright. When he turned back to Mojo, he noticed the slight shaking of his hands and how his fur stood on end with agitation. Boomer dragged a hand over his face and rolled his eyes. "Dad," he groaned. "This is not the place to be having this conversation."

"Then where? When?" Mojo asked his voice becoming screechy like the animal he was. "You three always are keeping something from me. Before it was H.I.M's torment. Then it was the girls. Now it's H.I.M again. When will it end?" His blood pressure was raising and he clutched at his chest and braced himself against the produce table.

"Mojo!" Boomer sped to his side and placed his hands on his shoulder, to hold him upright. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine!" He snapped before pulling away from Boomer and rubbing his hands over his fur that was on edge. "Let's just get the groceries."

There was no room left for discussion and Boomer couldn't do much save for pushing the basket around. When their basket was full and the two of them were about to check out, he was more than a little surprised to see Dexter and who could only be his mother. He knew the moment the pest noticed him, as his eyes widened and a slight frown cane over his face. "Boomer, what an unpleasant surprise."

"Dexter! Mind your manners." His mother scolded before looking to the young man that reminded her of another young man. When it came to her who the boy reminded her of, she gasped and pointed to the Boomer. "You wouldn't happen to know Brick, would you?"

"He's my brother." Boomer answered her, before turning to Mojo. "This is my dad. Mojo."

Dexter and his mother looked to the chimp that they encountered once before. Just like before, it was a shock to see such a creature of a chimp that was Mojo. With his green skin and pink eyes, that shown with too much intelligence, his ability to talk was just the proverbial icing on the cake. "We've met. Boomer, let's get in line to check out."

Boomer nodded his head and followed Boomer to the line. Behind him, Dexter and his mother with their own basket of groceries got in line to check out. While it was easy for Mojo to ignore the two behind them, it was harder for Boomer. Then again, he wasn't like Mojo who was immune to the never-ending scrutiny. Sure, it's lessened over the years, but there was still the one human that let their eyes linger on him just a moment too long. However, while the boys and Mojo were the cause of many different disasters across Townsville in their younger days, none of them had a recent reason to be angry with them. Except for Dexter, who couldn't resist being petty."

"How's Blossom doing in school?" Dexter asked more than ready to be smug about his grades this semester. "I know it can't be easy."

It was a baited question if Boomer ever heard one. However, he knew how to end this without giving Dexter what he wanted. "I wouldn't know. I'm living my own life, being an adult." He smiled when Mojo chuckled under his breath and glanced at him from under his metal cap.

"You forget you're only thirteen."

"I was born five years old, so in addition to being alive thirteen years that makes me eighteen." Boomer smiled as Mojo reached up and gave Boomer's arm a parental squeeze.

"That's right," Dexter started bringing a finger to his chin in thought. "You Rowdy Ruff Boys are only thirteen. I'm fifteen, so that makes me older than you."

"Dexter." His mother warned with the tone of voice alone.

Mojo looked over his shoulder and gave Dexter a cursory glance with a raised brow. "He's fifteen?"

"Hey!" Dexter snapped, not liking being insulted by an inferior primate. "I'm at least a natural-born Homosapien. You and your brothers are nothing but experimental genetic rejects! OWW! Mom!"

Boomer turned around in time just to see Dexter's ear caught in the fierce grip that made him wince despite the little twerp deserving it. In that moment, he was struck with a nightmarish vision of being caught in the clutches of crab claws and hearing that deepening effeminate voice whisper of terrible things to come for "bad" behavior. A shudder ran through him and he quickly pulled away from Mojo, hoping he wouldn't notice. Walking around the basket, he started to place their groceries on the conveyer belt to be checked.

The sudden shift in mood did not go unnoticed by Mojo. The bright cheerful playfulness that was Boomer dimmed before his very eyes, and he couldn't think it possible to hate so much again. He thought he hated the girls, given their shared history with one another, but this. H.I.M was a parent to the boys much like he was, or so he thought. To think that the one who was closest to them hurt them the most. It made his blood boil and fur stand on end. He hoped that this dinner plan of his paid off.

Coal was in his car seat slumbering peacefully while Brick watched as they waited for Blossom to be finished with her doctor's appointment. Her six weeks of healing were almost up and rather than being filled with excitement, he was full of trepidation. As a hot-blooded male, he should be excited at the prospect of having penetrative sex with his girlfriend again, but he was plagued with nightmares. They weren't as severe after a few weeks of `recovery and holy water cleansing, but still, his balls shrank at the thought of getting lost in the pleasurable action and being struck with a potential memory of him hurting her.

While he was lost in thought, the doors to the doctor's office opened, and in came another bane of his existence. His cape was turned forward and the bill was pulled low over his face while he rearranged the blanket over his slumbering son. If Blossom came out of her appointment and saw Princess not only antagonizing him but their son as well—he made no guarantees that bodily harm wouldn't be caused. Unfortunately for him, his red cap seemed to act like a beacon and Princess Morbucks made her way over to the young father after checking in with the receptionist. His arms were crossed over his chest and he just radiated animosity.

"Hi, Brick." She said while sitting beside him and crossing her legs at the knee.

"Not in the mood, Morbucks." He grumbled lowly while sinking into his chair.

She sniffed and sat back in her seat before pulling out her phone. "Whatever. What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Brick asked, without during to look her way. "Came to get your sticker stamped for being disease-free for a month?"

The spoiled brat's fingers paused over her screen, before continuing with her scrolling. "Blossom, have your brat yet?"

"What's it to you?"

She shrugged her shoulder and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. "Just wanted to know if Miss Not So Perfect is still fat or if she's saggy and loose from having it."

Brick sneezed and with it released a few sparks of flames, one of them catching onto Princess' stockings. As expected, she jumped up with a shriek, dropping her phone and waved her hands over the harmless sparks that didn't do much except burn minuscule holes into her stockings. Brick sat back and watched the spectacle with a frown, more annoyed than ever. He'll probably hear from Daddy Morbucks about the incident, but he couldn't care less about that. Princess could say what she wanted about him, but he drew the line at her talking about Blossom.

The commotion drew the attention of the other patients and a few giggles from the receptionist and nurse. Princess' somewhat frequent visits to the clinic gave her a reputation, so seeing her flail about like an idiot was a welcome sight. Face burning red with humiliation and anger, she turned to Brick with her fists clenched at her sides. "You…you—!"

A soft whimper came from under the blanket that covered the car seat and drew Brick's attention. Turning to his son he peeked under the blanket, only for Princess to snatch it completely off the car seat. "Hey!" She snapped standing up and turning a fiery glare onto Princess. "You keep your hands off my son!" His hands clenched smoke rising from between his knuckles. "You touch him again, I'll burn you alive!"

The fine hairs on the back of Princess' neck stood on end. She'd heard of the terror that the Rowdy Ruff Boys were, even employed them. However, at the time they were nothing but loud, obnoxious brats humoring her for the hell of it and for the simple sake of destruction. Princess easily dismissed them and found herself regretting it. As she looked at Brick now, she remembered why he was the leader of the Rowdy Ruff Boys. What she was faced with was the ruby glare of death and hell itself—and it wasn't a threat, but a promise.

At that point, one of the nurses had come over and stepped between mindful to not touch Brick as he radiated heat. "All right that's enough now. We have patients." She then turned a stern stare at the spoiled heiress. "You, Miss Morbucks, I needn't tell you how if you cause any more trouble at this clinic, then your father will have to record off all your appointments."

The daddy's girl tried to save face, but under the stern glare of the nurse, scoffed and turned to find a seat far from Brick and his son. The young father watched the brat go and turned to his squirming son. Coal wasn't quite awake yet, but he was in the process of waking up. When he did, it would be time for him to eat. He hoped Blossom would be finished with her appointment by then but if not, Brick would just break out one of his bottles. They tried to keep him on the breast as much as possible, but Blossom saw it was good for Brick to feed their son every once in a while. Though the first time it took Coal and Brick some getting used to. Apparently, Blossom's breastmilk was chilled to Coal's drinking preference due to her cryokinetic ability.

Sitting back down, he turned to Coal and rocked the car seat in a soothing motion hoping to lull him back to sleep. When Coal's eyes closed, Brick let out a soft sigh of relief. Not long after Coal was asleep again, Blossom came out into the waiting room. She caught the lingering scent of smoke and turned to where she last left Brick, only to frown when she saw Princess within the vicinity. Ice formed from her footsteps as she walked toward Brick and Coal. Grabbing her coat from the chair she slipped her arms in while keeping an eye on Princess. "I see the brat is here."

"Yeah, let's go." Brick said while grabbing Coal and walking alongside Blossom to the exit.

Of course, Princess was not without her pettiness watching Brick and Blossom leave. Before Blossom put her coat on, she noticed how good the Power Puff Girl leader looked. Breasts full and round, hips wide without being obsessive, and her waist was…ugh. Blossom looked disgustingly good for a new mom, and the very sight sickened Princess. "You look good Blossom."

"Thanks," the icy Power Puff said waiting for the barb that was no doubt coming.

"Yeah, all it took for you to get a decent body was getting knocked up." She said with a nasal chuckle, thinking she was clever. "Great job Brick, you really took advantage of nature taking its course."

The retort Blossom waiting on her tongue was caught in her throat when Coal's car seat was thrust into her arms and Brick was storming over to her nemesis. "Brick?"

It was a purely Rowdy Ruff Boy move when he yanked Princess from her seat by the front of her shirt and made her level with his gaze. She let out a shriek of indignation and glared up at Brick before coming face to face with that glare from moments before, only this time the pits of hell that were his eyes swirling dangerously.

"What the hell would you know, you spoiled disease-ridden slut?" Brick asked, hearing nothing but H.I.M's taunting voice in his head. "Don't you dare make light of this. You don't know what we've been through."

"Brick!"

"You're nothing compared to what we've had to deal with. You always will be nothing, but still, you should watch what you say, because one of these days we're not going to hold back." His grip tightened on her shirt and heat radiated from his skin enough to make Princess sweat.

"BRICK!" Blossom placed an icy hand to the back of Brick's neck and decreased the temperature of her skin until Brick lowered and released Princess.

The moment she was let go, she slumped to the floor on her backside and started to breathe heavily with tears just barely being held in check. "Just—just you wait until my daddy hears about this! He just assaulted me! You've committed a crime!"

"Don't you get started on him about crime, brat! You were in jail long before he ever was prosecuted for anything." Blossom snapped at her, before pulling Brick away from the teenaged girl laying on the ground. Coal was now getting fussy and Brick continued to radiate heat despite her ice powers being at work.

When Blossom finally got Brick outside, he pulled himself from her and stormed over to the car. It didn't escape her notice the slight shimmer of heat that distorted the air around him. When he exhaled a cloud of smoke, he reached into his pockets for the car keys and set them on the roof of the Blossom's Toyota. He then took off into the air and flew to the only place he could take his anger out.

On the ground below, Blossom watched as Brick flew away leaving his red streak to disappear into the early evening sun. Even with tears burning her eyes, she couldn't stand there in the parking lot in the chilled air. Coal was fussy and probably hungry. Grabbing the keys from the top of the car, she unlocked it and secured Coal. She then slid into the back seat and pulled her baby from his car seat. She then moved him into a position that was best to feed him and lifted her shirt and dropped her bra cup. The moment Coal latched onto her breast, Blossom closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat, tears finally falling.

Blossom needed to find a way to help Brick. He couldn't keep blaming himself for something that didn't happen. If only she had taken that damn rape kit when the professor had suggested it. She was only against it, to begin with because she knew she'd been with Brick. "Mommy has to find a way to help Daddy, Coal." Her son only made a soft grunt in response while he was eating. Blossom sighed and ran her hand over his red cap covered head. "That or knock some sense into him."

Coal let out a smile—or maybe a gassy face—at Blossom and unlatched himself from Blossom's breast.

"All done?" Blossom then readjusted her clothes before moving her son over her shoulder to burp him. When she was waiting for him to burp, she noticed Princess leaving the clinic. A car had just arrived for her and Blossom saw a wonderful opportunity. Opening the car door, she put her foot out and sent ice toward the Morbucks' car. Going unnoticed, the ice wrapped around the tires of the discreet car and held it in place. For extra measure Blossom had her ice creep into the engine.

When Princess' car failed to start or move, she got out of her car and began yelling at the driver. Getting out of the car, the two inspected the car and saw it covered in ice. Princess shrieked and stomped her booted feet. Looking around the parking lot, she saw Blossom in the backseat of a little red car.

"Blossom!"

The leader of the Power Puff girls let out a scoffing laugh and turned to place Coal in his car seat. The young babe having been burped was now wide awake and looking all over the place for his daddy. When he didn't see him, he let out a whine.

"It's okay, Fireball," Blossom told him before placing a kiss on his cheek. "We'll be home soon."

Their ride home was broken up only by Coal's whimpering at missing his daddy. With Blossom driving there wasn't much she could do save for putting on nursery rhymes for Coal. It did nothing to soothe her baby, and the young mother found herself growing frustrated in a way she hadn't anticipated with Brick. It was a split-second decision for Blossom to turn the car in the direction of the Utonium home. Pulling up behind Butch's Jeep, she took a deep breath before getting herself and Coal out and to the front door.

Having seen her sister from her place on the couch beside Butch, Buttercup went to open the door for her and her nephew. "Blossom, what are doing here?"

"I have to find Brick. Can you watch Coal for a few hours?" she asked as she went to set Coal down beside Butch.

The uncle looked from the television to his nephew and then up to his sister in law. "What?"

"He's already eaten, but if he does get hungry, there's a couple of bottles in his bag. We should put them in the fridge." With that thought in mind, Blossom walked toward the kitchen with Coal's diaper bag pulled over her shoulder. Buttercup followed after her sister to the kitchen

Butch still dumbstruck by what was happening glanced at his whimpering nephew. When Coal began to grow more agitated at being somewhere other than home, Butch quickly got off the couch and leaned over the miniature Rowdy Ruff Boy and carefully pulled him from his car seat. "Hey, wait just a second." When Coal looked to not relent in his crying, he looked to where the girls disappeared. "Blossom?!"

In the kitchen, Blossom was looking for a place to put the bottles of breast milk when Buttercup called to her. "Are you okay?"

"I will be as soon as I find Brick," Blossom said as managed to find a spot in the door between the mustard and relish. After closing the fridge, she breezed past Buttercup to the living room, where Butch was struggling to calm down Coal, who was starting to wail. Taking her son from his arms, Blossom blew an icy breath over him, while Butch shook his hands from the heat his nephew radiated. "I'll be right back, Coal. Mommy just has to go find Daddy."

"He didn't go to the tower?" Butch asked.

Blossom shook her head while Coal slowly cooled down—metaphorically and literally. She then looked to her brother in law with searching eyes. "Do you know where he could be?"

"Depends. He could've easily gone to City's Ville or maybe Monster Isle. We usually go there when we're itching for a fight." Blossom nodded her head and was about to hand her calmer baby to Butch when he put his hands up. "Now Pinkie—."

"Don't call me Pinkie, also you owe me. Ten babysitting jobs with diaper changes included." Blossom told him while trying to pass off Coal.

Butch stepped back with his hands raised in a motion that showed he wouldn't be taking his nephew. "Be that as it may, I'm not going to take him so you can go kick my brother's ass. He doesn't need that right now."

"Then what does he need?" Buttercup asked as she came back to the living room and took her nephew into her arms. She cooed and spoke softly in baby talk to him that Butch found just a little too cute on his wife. When Buttercup looked back at him after sitting down on the couch, her brow furrowed at the strange look Butch was giving her. "What?"

"Nothing." Clearing his throat and unable to prevent the slight reddening of his cheeks, he turned away and refocused on Blossom. "Look, Brick will pull his head out of his ass soon enough, but you have to understand H.I.M did a number on us. Especially Brick, and I know it kills him that you got caught up in it."

"We knew what H.I.M was capable of—." Blossom started only for Butch to shake his head.

"You thought you knew. You saw the devious trickster that played hellish mind games. We lived with H.I.M, and saw a side of him that you're lucky to have never been on the receiving end of." Butch told her, before looking back at Buttercup. "He made us feel powerless."

With empathy breaking through the frustration, Blossom huffed out a breath and moved to go sit in the recliner. "Fine. Fine. I won't kick his ass, but what am I supposed to do?"

Butch sat down beside Buttercup on the couch and shrugged. "I really can't tell you."

"I say show him that you're not some weakling," Buttercup said while rocking Coal. "Maybe then he'll stop feeling so bad. Remind him that we're the Power Puff Girls, and we were kicking their Rowdy Ruff asses long before puberty set in."

While Butch started bickering with Buttercup about how the boys held their own against them Blossom became lost in her thoughts regarding what she should do concerning Brick. Butch was right in that kicking Brick's ass wouldn't help, despite how good it would make her feel—at least for the time she was doing the actual ass-kicking. That didn't mean Buttercup didn't have a valid point either. She had to show Brick that she was just as strong as he was. He might be the eldest and former leader of the Rowdy Ruff Boys, but she was the eldest and leader of the Power Puff Girls. She was just as capable of handling her own as he was. Brick and Blossom were equals—even in their threat level to H.I.M. The demon targeted them both rather than it just being Brick. He wanted her broken too. For a moment she thought she was, but Brick was there beside her. Now it was her turn to stand beside him.