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

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Lost Time

Brick patiently waiting at the front door while the professor held Coal as he sucked on his pacifier while watching his mommy pull nearly all of his things from his diaper bag.

"Here are his toys, a change of clothes, extra diapers, wipes, a bib. In his other bag, there should be plenty of bottles of milk for him to have. Just warm in hot water, not the microwave. He thankfully doesn't need to have a bath, so no worries about that. Umm, when he's upset he'll get warm, like really warm, almost hot, so you might want to wear something to protect you. He can't burn us, but he might burn you." She finally left Coal's diaper bag alone and turned to her son and dad. "Is there anything I'm forgetting?" Coal smiled from behind his pacifier at his mommy when she tried to tame his unruly spikes.

"Yes, that I've raised three little girls and a chimp." The professor said with a smile. "You go to your party. We'll be fine."

Blossom looked between her son and the professor with a look of hesitation on her face. It would be her first time leaving her son for an extended period of time, and she wasn't sure how to cope. It was easier for Brick as he had to leave Coal every day during the semester for classes, and he mercifully stayed quiet while Blossom fretted. "But what if he misses us."

"We'll be having too much fun." The professor said as he cuddled his grandson, who cooed happily.

"Absolutely, under no circumstances is he to be brought down to your lab. No needles. No taking samples. No simulator chamber. No getting 'curious' and just sitting back and observing what he's going to do next. He's a baby, not an experiment." Blossom probably didn't need to remind the professor of that, but something in her just wanted that distinction said aloud.

The professor humored her request by nodding his head in agreement. "Of course, Blossom. No experimentation on until he's able to give consent."

Blossom was about to saw more when Brick cleared his throat from his place by the front door. "Cherry, we got to go. My potluck's going to get cold."

"Right." She then turned to Coal and placed more than few kisses to his chubby cheeks. "We'll be back tomorrow to pick him up. Are you sure he's old enough to stay the night?"

"Blossom, he's going to be fine. Let's go." Brick urged her while jingling his keys to hasten her.

With one last kiss to her son's cheek, she allowed Brick to lead her out of the Utonium house. The professor stood in the window with Coal looking out, so he could see his parents. When they finally left, the professor made his way over to the couch so that he could sit with Coal and watch television with him. Propping Coal on his stomach, he turned the television to a random animated movie, hoping the bright colors would pique his grandson's interest. "You know Coal, I don't know why your mommy was so worried about you spending the night with me. You don't have your powers yet, but your pyrokinesis. And that's not even at full power yet. Your mom's cryokinesis came in at full power. You know she froze half of Townsville?"

Coal was only partially listening to his grandpa's talking. The bright colors of the weird troll-like creatures were just like his toys on his playmat. Thinking of his toys, made him want to play with them, and started to wave his hands up and down. When his grandpa finally noticed that he wanted to do more than just watch the thingies on the television, he got up with him. Moving to his bag, the professor reached in and pulled out the first toy his hand touched.

"Is this what you want Coal?" The professor asked as he waved a red striped rattle in his hand.

The toy made noise, but it wasn't like the thingies on the television and it wasn't what he wanted. He made a fussy sound and turned his head away.

"No?" The professor set the rattle aside and reached into his bag for another toy. This time he pulled out a fuzzy teddy bear that wasn't that much bigger than he was.

It was fuzzy, it wasn't colorful. Coal made his displeasure known by starting to whimper. His skin also started to warm up.

"Hey, hey." The professor rocked him gently. "What's the matter? You don't like this one either? It's soft and fuzzy." He shook it and pressed it again Coal's face.

Coal turned his head and pushed it away. His grandpa was pulling out the few other toys, but they were all the wrong toys. Where was his favorite? The fuzzy thingy that would light up when he hit it and make the funny sounds. It wasn't there. Mommy didn't pack his fuzzy thingy. How was he to stay the night away from home without his fuzzy thingy? His whimpers turned into full crying with his skin warming up with his distress.

"Oh, Coal." The professor gave up on trying to find a toy to play with and settled for rocking him and walking about the house. All the while Coal whimpered and cried against the professor's shoulder. As far as he was concerned, his night was ruined. "It's okay. It's okay. Come on, Coal. If you don't have a good time, I'm sure your parents won't ever let me babysit again."

After about twenty minutes, Coal's crying quieted. The professor sighed in relief as Coal calmed himself. With his stomach rumbling against him, The professor figured it was time to fix him something to eat. Thinking he'd need both of hands, he laid out the throw blanket from the couch on the carpeted floor. With the television set to an animated colorful show, she laid his grandson down and surrounded him with pillows, should he managed to roll over despite not being old enough.

As he made his way to the kitchen the house phone rang drawing the professor's attention. Picking it up from the receiver, he went about getting Coal's meal ready. "Hello?" He answered with the phone between his shoulder as he set up a pot to boil.

"Can I assume that your virago of a daughter isn't there?" Mojo asked. "Boomer mentioned there was to be a party tonight hosted by one of their collective friends."

"Buttercup isn't here. Just a simple boys' night in." The professor said as he turned to the fridge to grab one of Coal's premade bottles.

"Boys' night?"

"I'm watching our grandson tonight." The professor informed his former simian ward. "Do you want to come to visit with him for a while?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone as Mojo contemplated whether he should. Buttercup wasn't there to antagonize him, so there was that. However, he hadn't the faintest idea of how long the party would last, and he wanted to avoid her if possible. While Bubbles might've been the one he was more physically threatened by, Buttercup was still by far the least pleasant of the group. Her sharp tongue was more of a weapon than her fists. "I don't think I should."

Setting the bottle in the pot to warm, he directed his attention to Mojo. "Are you sure?"

"I asked if she was there, to know if you had the liberty of speaking freely," Mojo said before letting a sigh pull from him. "Since you're minding the infant, I'll call back later."

"It's not so difficult as you make it seem to be. I did raise you, didn't I?" The professor said while returning to the living room to check on Coal. The Ruff infant was busy chewing on his fist, staring aimlessly at his surroundings turning to the television when a loud sound caught his ear. Grabbing a previously rejected toy from his diaper bag, the professor took his place on the floor beside Coal and gave him the teddy to entertain himself. Unlike before Coal, took the bear and began to chew on his nose. He did pause once looking at the bear before pushing it away and appeared to be searching for something more. When he didn't find it, he groaned and started to fuss. "Dinner's almost ready. Just wait a little longer."

"Sounds like things are going well." Mojo quipped sarcastically.

"He's just a little hungry." The professor answered while getting up to retrieve the bottle. "You weren't much better when you were hungry. If I remember you were a lot louder and worst. Coal at least has yet to bite me."

Mojo snorted drawing a laugh from the professor as he retrieved the warmed-up bottle and turned off the stove. He tested the temperature against his forearm. It stung just a bit against his skin, signifying it was too hot. Returning to the baby's side, he sat down and set the bottle out of sight of his grandson. If he saw it and couldn't have it, the professor was sure Coal would fuss. "It was only once."

"More than once." The professor said while trying to distract Coal with his bear. "You should just come over if you're so concerned about him."

"I'm not concerned." Mojo disagreed. "And I'm not coming over."

"Mojo, you've only seen him twice, and never held him." The professor said. "You'd love him if you let yourself, and I'm sure he'd love you too."

Once again, Mojo was told that the child could love him. He'd yet to let himself believe that Brick and Blossom's son could love him. It was just the pattern of his life that made him hesitate at times. Love and be loved only to be abandoned in the end. His mother while in the Congo. The doctors that rescued him from the poachers. The professor. His sons. The former simian villain had a second chance with his sons. Hell, he was being given a third chance after he emotionally abandoned them.

"All right Coal, time to eat."

Mojo was broken out of his thoughts by the professor speaking to their grandson. "I'll call again later."

"You should just come over, rather than staying cooped up in the tower of yours." The professor tried to say before Mojo hung up. Setting the landline down beside him, he watched as Coal happily ate his meal. While Mojo had been lost in thought, the professor had picked up Brick's miniature and cradled him in his arms. Coal made soft grunting sounds as he ate. He preferred the slight chill of his milk when he ate with Mommy, but he knew to expect it warmer when he ate from the bottle. As long as he ate, he wasn't going to complain. "Your other grandpa is stubborn, Coal."

Coal's brilliant red eyes flickered up to his human grandfather.

"Can't say that I blame him. He hasn't had the simplest of lives. I knew him best when he was an infant. For your mom, it was when he was a villain. He was quite the terror you know. Maybe he'll tell you of some of his exploits, though I doubt it. Your dad was raised by him, so his view will differ the most from everyone else's." The professor looked down at his grandson and his almost empty bottle. "You have quite the appetite, don't you?"

Another grunt was all Coal provided as an answer. He enjoyed listening to the people around him talk around him, especially his mommy and daddy. What they said was unintelligible, but one word always seemed to be directed at him. Coal. He even heard other people direct this word at him. Maybe that was his name. Coal. He liked it. When he finished his meal, he pulled back from the nipple and turned his head away.

"All done?" The professor removed the bottle from Coal's face and shifted him so that he could burp him. After that, the two of them returned to the couch and sat quietly as they continued to watch television. "You know I haven't sat and simply watched television in a long time. I'm usually working on experiments or theories. When you're older, maybe we can do some experiments together. Of course, we won't tell Mommy."

No sooner did he say that did, did his landline ring. Coal jumped a bit at the sound and heated like a flare in surprise. The professor reached over and answered as he gently rocked Coal in reassurance. "Hello?" In the background of the call, he could hear music and chatter.

"Hey, Professor." Blossom's voice came through. "Just wanted to check-in. Make sure everything's okay."

The professor chuckled as he switched the phone to speakerphone and set it in front of Coal. "Say hi to your nervous, overprotective mother Coal."

"Hi, Coal. How are you Fireball?"

At the sound of his Mommy's voice, Coal grew excited and waved his arms around. The professor laughed at his antics and held the phone a bit away from him so he wouldn't accidentally end the call. "He's fine. We've been sitting around watching TV."

"Has he eaten?"

"Yeah, he ate very well. Didn't want to play with any of his toys though." He turned to Coal who was reaching for the phone.

"He didn't want to play with his monster?" Blossom asked.

"What monster?"

"A red, orange, and yellow monster that looked like a fuzzball with horns, eyes, and teeth?" Blossom questioned. "Don't tell me I forgot it. We forgot his monster, Brick."

"Does he have his teddy bear?" Brick asked coming onto the phone. "Hey Fireball. You're not giving the professor too much trouble are you?"

"He's fine. Had a bit of a tantrum earlier, but he's okay now." The professor informed him. "Aren't you, Coal?"

The infant in question was too enthralled by hearing his parents to really care. He blubbered and waved his arms and legs around. He suddenly squealed and with the sound, his diaper filled with his released excitement. Unfortunately for the professor that excitement was felt through the diaper in his lap. "Feels like someone needs to be changed now."

"I'd give that a few minutes." Brick advised. "He's had a habit of taking a dump right after we put a fresh diaper on him."

"Noted." The professor said while adjusting his grandson on his lap, careful to not disturb the diaper. "How's the party? Are you having fun?"

"Yeah. All our friends are here like last year and we have mostly good food." Brick answered. "We're about to do Secret Santa. Listen Fireball, Mommy and I have to go. We'll see you tomorrow okay buddy."

Coal blowout a loud raspberry of noise before reaching for the phone again.

"Hang up, Blossom. Let's go." Brick chuckled.

"Okay, okay. I love you, Coal." Then the call ended. Coal reached for the phone wanting to hear more of his parents' voices. When he didn't, he waved his hands agitatedly and made low sounds of discontent. His body also warmed up and his lip wobbled.

The professor noticed his grandson's declining contentment and shifted him so that they were facing each other. "Oh, don't be like that. I thought we were having a good time."

Coal's face as well as his whole body scrunched up and he made a low sound of effort. The professor wondered what he could possibly be doing when a pungent smell filled the air and his whole body relaxed. When he met the infant's red eyes, much too similar to his father's in their excitement for mischief, that professor could only mockingly frown and shake his head.

"You are indeed your father's son. Only a Rowdy Ruff Boy would be so happy with himself for something like that.

A semblance of a smile crossed Coal's face while the professor got up so that he could go retrieve a clean diaper.

Brick plucked the phone from Blossom's fingers and stuff it into his pocket. "Come on. We called to check on him. He's fine. We're supposed to be having fun. You know, be college students without responsibilities for the night."

Blossom's pink eyes flicked up to Brick's red eyes. "I know. It's just hard to be away from him."

An arm came down around her shoulders and a drink was placed in her hand. "Hey, Red or should I say Rack?" Alex asked with a glance at Blossom's ample bosom, swollen from breastfeeding. He then stepped back as a dark cloud of smoke was shot into his face. "Sorry, sorry. It's just motherhood has become you."

Brick folded his arms and lifted a brow, not impressed. "Just keep your eyes off her rack. It's already spoken for." Brick didn't have too much of a problem with Alex, but he did find the older guy a bit annoying at times. "Anyway, he'd right Cherry Pie. We're here to have fun."

Alex pointed at Blossom's boyfriend and nodded. "Exactly, so drink up, and let's do this Secret Santa." The sound of the glass smashing and suddenly raised voices. The three of them turned to see Butch and Buttercup in a standoff beside the Christmas tree where all the presents were sitting.

Brick moved to stand beside Blossom and sighed as he watched Butch and Buttercup. Buttercup had spent the day with Tabitha setting up for the party, so she'd been there all day. Butch arrived with Boomer and Bubbles and spoke the bare minimum to his wife. When the two of them weren't in the vicinity of each other, the party was fun. When they stepped close enough to touch, a heavy air hung over them. Their respective friends tried to keep them from breaking out into a fight, but apparently, Buttercup's patience had run out.

"I'm going to seriously punch you in the face, Butch!" Buttercup was now screaming. Her fist clenched tightly at her side with the promise to follow through.

"I'm not doing this with you Buttercup," Butch told her in a low tone that made the hairs on the back of a few necks stand on end. "I'm here to enjoy a party with my friends."

Bubbles stood up and caught Buttercup's fist in her palm. The force of the impact pushed against everyone and rattled the foundation of the house. Butch stood unfazed by Buttercup's display. When her sister tried to pull her away, she shook her off and stomped out of the house. Butch simply ran a hand over his head and sat down, blatantly ignoring the stares of everyone and not saying anything.

Boomer reached for Bubbles' hand, noticing the red imprint in her palm. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Bubbles assured him as she shook her hand to relieve it of the small pain she felt. She sat beside Boomer and allowed him to take her hand and place a gentle kiss to her palm. The action made Bubbles giggle, as she let Boomer spoil her for his own reassurance.

Beside them, Butch looked on hoping his already green eyes would conceal the envy. He knew that his relationship with Buttercup would never be so simple as his baby brother's, but still; it had to be a hell of a lot easier. It wasn't uncommon to feel drained when it came to dealing with Buttercup, however, he couldn't put all the blame on her. If there was one thing he hoped no one ever figured out about the snails Ruff and Spice Puff, it was that they tended to get clingy with each other. Whenever they were fighting and the other pulled away, it was like a game of emotional cat and mouse. When they first had sex it was Butch who was chasing Buttercup. Then Buttercup when she wanted more than just a friends with benefits relationship. Butch again when they lost that Chemical X induced tingling that first ignited their physical relationship. Butch again during their time in Hawaii. Now it was Buttercup's turn to chase, but he didn't intend to cave and spill his feelings this time. Buttercup's attitude hadn't just affected him, but their family. They were a collective now, with no more his side versus her side. Mojo was trying now. He was putting forth an effort. The very goddamn least Buttercup could do was give the chimp a chance. It wasn't easy for Mojo to change his mind. No one knew that better than the boys.

Alex took a deep pull of his drink and sighed. "Looks like I might need to work my magic again." Before he could take a step, Brick placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

"I'd leave that alone." Brick advised. "Those two are the only ones capable of sorting out whatever the hell is going on with them."

Blossom nodded in silent agreement. The Thanksgiving fiasco truly could've been avoided. The bet Brick and Butch had was mild more of a jest than anything else. The picking and prodding at their given targets were nothing but the bare minimum of what they could've done. Unfortunately, Buttercup had to drive that knife in those last few inches deeper. "Buttercup is volatile. Also what magic?" she laughed.

Alex turned to Blossom with a mock hurt expression. "The magic that pushed you two together." He then turned to Brick with a wide smile on his face. "You remember how jealous he was when we danced under the mistletoe? A simple peck on the cheek practically had smoke pouring out of his ears."

A giggle passed through Blossom's lips before her attention turned to Brick. "You were kind of cute in your jealousy."

"If I recall you were waiting for me to woo you." Brick said and he put himself between Alex and Blossom, wrapping an arm around her.

"I'm still waiting." Blossom teased, only to be kissed with that fiery passion only Brick could produce. Form her lips did the heat spread throughout her body, setting every cell on fire. The ice in her didn't stand a chance. When he pulled back, he exhaled steam against her face, making a blush flare on her cheeks. The smug smirk on Brick's face more than informed her that he knew what he was doing.

Alex made to watch the intimate—and dare he admit it, erotic—display cleared his throat and gestured to their friends who were watching them with varied expressions of amusement. Brick and Blossom were pushed forward by Alex. After they rejoined the group the passing out of presents began.

Just like last year, the presents made everyone laugh. Some more than others. Blossom's Secret Santa was Sam, and her friend's gift was more for Coal than for her. "A swing? I hope this doesn't jumpstart his flying ability."

"He's already creating sparks." Brick mentioned. "You better hope when you burp him next he doesn't set your hair on fire." Brick then ran a hand through her hair. "It'd be a shame."

"Of course, Pretty Boy would have a hair fetish," Butch commented, the snark just on the other side of the line between charming and cynicism.

Brick chose to ignore the comment as he knew his brother was hurting. Instead, he just held his hand out for his gift from his Secret Santa. Tabitha handed him a small envelope. His gift was a piggyback from last year. A certificate to a pottery class for two from Jack. Jack received a variety pack of mochi from Sam. Sam received the latest issue of her favorite book from Mac. Mac received novelty macaroni and cheese from Josh. Josh received special edition laminated baseball cards from Boomer. Boomer received a Kama Sutra Book from Butch. That earned him a scowl while the everyone else laughed.

After all the presents were given out, save for Buttercup's, Alex and Josh went about making drinks for everyone. In all that time, Buttercup hadn't returned inside. When Alex and Josh were passing out drinks, Alex held the final two drinks on his tray to Butch. When Butch took one drink and not the other, Alex held the second drink out to him and made a gesture for him to head outside.

It was by no means subtle, but Butch took the hint. Grabbing the second drink, hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish cream, he went outside to look for Buttercup. He partially expected to see her on the porch. When he didn't, he stepped down and turned to look up at the roof. "Give me a sign you're up there, Toots."

"Piss off!"

Butch floated up and landed on the roof beside his reclining wife. Her nose was pink, lips were trembling, and frost ran down her cheeks in distinct lines. "I figured you'd have enough sense to get out of the cold." He handed her one of the drinks in his hand and crouched beside her. "Here, this should warm you up."

Jade eyes flickered to the mug before she turned and put her back to the both of them. "You're a dick. You know that?"

"And you can be a bitch, but I still love your ass." Butch set the mug down and took a sip from his own. "I just came out here to give you that. Warm up, and come back inside. Your Secret Santa gift is waiting for you."

Buttercup felt him stand up and descend the roof. Sitting up, she watched as he disappeared into the house. When he was gone from her sight, Buttercup turned to the cooling mug of hot chocolate and thought about shattering it. Instead, she made herself drink it in one sitting and then jumped off the roof. She using her flight abilities to cushion her landing. Walking into the house, set her mug in the kitchen, and went to stand in the doorway. Goo, who turned out to be Buttercup's Secret Santa, waved her in and moved around everyone to hand Buttercup her gift.

"Merry Christmas," Goo said with a wide smile.

Buttercup took the gift bag from her friend and reached between the tissue paper. She pulled out a small candle that had buttercups carved into it. When she brought it to her nose to smell it, it was jasmine and sandalwood. The two smells were hers and Butch's signature scents and in candle form was decadent. "This is nice Goo." She said despite the tightness forming in her chest. "Thanks."

Dropping the candle back in the bag, she turned and went to grab her jacket. She didn't feel much like partying and didn't want to go home to be reminded that her husband had willingly left. She'd just spend the rest of the night at their—no, her cabin. Granted, it would be the first place Butch would go to look for her, but part of her knew he wouldn't. Not with him being so indifferent to her.

From his place in the living room, Butch listened as Buttercup left, ignoring how everyone either stared at him or made an effort not to stare. He could care less about what everyone thought when it came to his marriage. He was glad his brothers were staying out of it. It was a miracle her sisters were staying out of it.

After about maybe an hour of staying at the party, Butch slipped out and headed back to the volcano tower. It was thankfully late when he returned home, so Mojo was already in bed. While the chimp was learning to be more considerate and less nosy, it didn't mean he didn't still hover. It wasn't as annoying as it could've been, but the green Ruff didn't want to deal with it tonight.

Having showered before he went to the party, he stripped as soon as he entered his room and flopped onto the bed. Rolling onto his back, he raised his left hand up to look at his wedding ring. The green-black gold shined in the minimal light, standing out against his fair skin. Who knew marriage was so hard? He'd managed to avoid a divorce because he knew in his heart he'd eventually want to marry her, but now they were separated. Sure, they'd said they'd be separated, but that was just to placate their dads. Now they truly were, but he needed some space from her. Space to be angry and think. He wasn't angry enough to go to the Isle, but give his dry spell a few more weeks and he'd definitely be going to blow off some steam. Maybe he could ask if Brick or Boomer would brawl with him. That or masturbate more.

Thinking of masturbating had his left hand dropping to his stomach while his right eased under the waistband of his boxers. He gripped himself and wasn't too surprised to find he was flaccid. Butch gave himself a few halfhearted strokes to himself before giving up. He chalked it up the drinking he'd done tonight, but unfortunately, thanks to his Chemical X induced blood, it was harder for him to get drunk. He knew the real issue was his trouble with Buttercup. With a groan, Butch rolled over and tried to relax enough to get some sleep. He'd worry about his blue balls and short-tempered wife later.

When Butch left, the party was getting close to dying down, so everyone was either settling in for the night or preparing to go home. For Brick and Blossom that meant going home for some much-needed alone time. Uninterrupted alone time. With Coal by the professor's, there wouldn't be a need for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The drive home was spent in silence holding hands, letting their sexual tension build and build, waiting for the right moment to act on it.

As they pulled up to their apartment complex, they quietly gathering their leftovers and gifts before going up. Still, they were silent as they dropped their gifts on the couch and put their leftovers in the fridge. As they were shrouded in darkness, Brick wrapped his arms around Blossom and placed kisses along her neck from behind.

"Brick," she gasped as he pulled her tight against his body while he ground his growing erection against her ass.

"I want you so fucking much right now." He growled in her ear. His hands moved under her clothes running up against her torso as she cupped her breasts in his hand. "So much."

Only a whimper was able to escape her lips as she allowed herself to succumb to the lust she and Brick had been denying themselves. Pulling his hands from her shirt, Brick turned Blossom around and lifted her onto the counter. His hands went to the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. As he dropped it to the floor, he stared with blazing ruby eyes at her breast; barely contained by her bra. As much as it annoyed him, Alex was right. Blossom's breasts were bountiful and beautifully swollen from her breastfeeding their son. Reaching behind her, for the clasp of her bra, he released it and let it drop to the floor before leaning in to place kisses along the tops of them. When he went lower and started to take her nipples into his mouth, Blossom gently pushed against his shoulders, making him look up at her.

"Bed. Bedroom." She whispered.

Brick exhaled a cloud of hot steam against her skin and pulled her up by her hips, forcing her to wrap them around his waist. He walked them to their bedroom, tongues tangling as they kiss. When they collapsed onto their bed, Blossom ripped the shirt from his back and tore his jeans and boxers in her rush to get them off. The animalistic smile that crossed his face only fanned the fire in Brick's body. He reciprocated by ripping through her skirt, tights, and panties in one tug. They both laughed at their equal impatience and embraced the feeling of their skin touching.

Moving up the bed, Brick spread Blossom's legs with his own and laid between them. All the while, a memory was tugging at Brick's mind. Something about what he was doing and how he was doing it was familiar. Hoping to drive the feeling away, as he started to rub his erection against Blossom's wet center. Once he felt slick enough, he started to push his tip into her.

"W-wait, Brick," Blossom forced herself to say amidst the sex haze they were in. "Condom."

Brick shook his head to clear the faint fog that was clouding his mind. Stretching over Blossom, he reached for their nightstand where he stashed their condoms. While he got himself situated, Blossom's mind wandered as their frenzy brought back faded memories from a night almost like this one. She was pulled from her thoughts when Brick laid back over her. When he slid into her in one smooth motion, her breath caught as her mind was assaulted with memories of a forgotten night. As her hands came up to cling to Brick's shoulders, his mind flew away from where he was. It traveled back to almost a year ago, to when he'd flown to Blossom's window, body blazing with heat. He saw himself knocking at the glass. He saw her let him in. He saw himself kiss her and felt his kiss be accepted. Her body had been so cold and comforting. A relief against the blaze that was his body.

When his mind came back to the now, Brick found himself doing the same things he did that night as the memories poured in. As he did them, he listened to Blossom's reactions and compared them to what she did that night. There were gasps of pleasure. Cries of ecstasy. Moans of coital relief. All the same, sounds she made that night. Not the screams of pain or cries to stop as he'd thought before. The relief seemed to give him a second wind and he increased his efforts to bring Blossom to orgasm. He shifted his hips and moved his arms under her legs, making them bend at the knees. The new angle struck a new spot within Blossom and had her throwing her head back as louder cries of pleasure rose from her throat. Brick forced her body to stretch as he leaned forward to place a kiss to her mouth, swallowing those cries. Blossom's arms reached up and wrapped around Brick's neck, bringing him closer to her.

Blossom's own memories of that night were coming back to her. How Brick held her tightly to him as he used his body to pleasure her own. How his touch soothed the burning her ice powers couldn't douse. How strong he felt as his muscles flexed all around her. How he made her feel like she was flying even though she never felt more grounded. She tightened her arms around his shoulders and tried to clasp her ankles around his back, but her current angle prevented that.

Brick felt what she was trying to do and stopped in his movements to allow her to drop her legs. As he moved to continue, he felt the condom he was wearing break. Groaning, he reached for another condom and caught the sound of Blossom sniffling. Turning back to her, he caught her rubbing the heel of her hand under her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"You're crying, so it can't be nothing." Brick said as he pulled the torn condom off and dropped it to the floor. He then reached for Blossom and pulled her up into a sitting position. "Tell me."

Blossom's pink eyes, full of tears turned to Brick and she let out a soft laugh. "You're a jackass."

"What?" he managed to get out before Blossom stood on her knees and wrapped him in a hug. "Blossom?"

"I told you you'd never hurt me, you dumbass." She cried against his shoulder. "I told you."

Brick exhaled and felt a tension in his body leave him, only to be replaced with relief. He hadn't allowed himself to believe it, even with the memories flooding his mind. Her own memories must've come back to prove that he hadn't hurt her as she believed. He wrapped his arms around Blossom and pulled her tight to his body. His head fell against her shoulder and shuddered out a breath.

"Love me, Brick." Blossom pulled back, just enough to reach for the condom, and fitted it over him. She was about to lean back when Brick yanked her back and lifted her onto him in his kneeling position. Impaled as she was on his erection, she felt fuller than when they were lying down. When he moved, she gasped at the different sensations he stirred in her. "Love me."

"I'll love you. I love you." He said as he moved within her. "I love you."

"I love you." She said as she continued to be rocked from below. Her orgasm that was already near the surface before came up again, making her breath catch against Brick's shoulder. "I love you."

Their movements gradually gained increased as they raced toward their finish. Ice coated Brick's skin where Blossom touched him, while Blossom's skin turned red where Brick touched her. With Blossom locking her legs around Brick's hips, she hung on for dear life as he increased his thrusting motion lost a bit of its rhythm.

"Almost there, Cherry. Just hold on a little longer." He said as he turned to her face and kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers. "I want to come with you." His words were spaced between the thrust of his tongue into her mouth, matching his cock driving into her.

"I don't," She gasped as she felt her body starting to tense. "think I can." Brick's heat was making her feel too good. She'd really missed being with him like this. After more than six weeks of healing, Blossom was more than ready for him to refamiliarize himself with her body. His heat was the perfect paradox to her iciness. When she was pregnant with Coal, she matched him. With her ice powers back it added a new element to their lovemaking. "Brick," she warned as her body acted of its own accord.

"I'm here. I'm…" his balls tightened "…right…" icy hot electricity ran down his spine "…here!" His orgasm crash over his just as Blossom's hit hers, felt in the contracting sensation of her inner muscles around him.

Head thrown back, ice and fire erupted from them respectively. When the two elements touched it created a vapor that clung to their skin, adding to the humidity of the room. Still holding Blossom, Brick laid them down, carefully easing out of her. Laying on their sides, Brick held Blossom's hand between them. Her leg was slightly wrapped around his calf and their breath mingled between them. Brick reached up and brushed her hair back from her face. Nothing needed to be said as their bodies recovered.

The rest of their night was spent making love, slowly and solely for the purpose of reconnecting with each other. The sun was just beginning to light the sky, when they finally fell asleep, physically and emotionally sated.

Buttercup hadn't been intending to stay the night at her cabin but was exactly what she did. She'd gone there seeking solitude and fell asleep wrapped in the blankets she and Butch had brought to cover their convertible couch bed. She woke up to the sound of birds and sunlight shining on her face through the window. She woke up irritable and in need of a shower and something to eat. Flying home, she stayed at a pace that wouldn't create her signature green streak, at it would notify Butch of where she currently was. However, she wasn't sure he'd be inclined to care.

Shaking that thought from her mind, she landed outside of her home. The first thing she could hear from her side of the door was crying. Rushing inside, she saw Bubbles gently rocking their nephew while Boomer stood helplessly off to the side. "Do I even want to know?"

Two sets of blue eyes flickered in her direction—one pleading for help, the other scrutinizing. "Where've you been?" Bubbles asked as she continued to try to soothe Coal whose wails only grew louder at Buttercup's presence.

Coal was ready to go home and be with his Mommy and Daddy. He'd been startled awake by the sound of the landline ringing. His morning bottle wasn't hot enough when it was time to eat. He had gas, and he had yet to pass it. He kept getting passed back and forth between yellow mommy and yellow daddy because he was too hot. The motions of it made his tummy turn on uncomfortably. The television characters weren't bright or fuzzy enough. Then to top it all off, black-haired mommy came in rather than his mommy. Coal's disappointment only agitated his upset.

"Where's the professor?" Buttercup asked as she made a beeline for the stairs. Her current temperament did not make her ideal to handle her nephew at the moment. A totally pessimistic thought that she'd only make it worse, passed as she walked by.

"I'm here." Her dad said as she came back into the room, pacifier in clutched between his teeth and oven mitts on, and a thick towel was thrown over his shoulder. Taking Coal from his youngest daughter, he shifted the small Rowdy Ruff bot over his shoulder and gave his back a few firm pats on the back. Coal hiccupped and finally burped, letting out a few glowing embers in the process. Closing his red eyes, he sighed in sweet relief. Now if only his mommy and daddy would get there to take him home.

Boomer from his place slightly behind Bubbles rose a brow. "Well, that's new."

"Don't act so surprised. He has a hot head for a dad." Buttercup said as she resumed making her way upstairs.

Those simple words reminded Boomer, that Buttercup wouldn't be Buttercup without her sharp sarcastic quips. It was those same quips that ruined their holiday. He'd calmed down considerably since the day, but from Butch's current living arrangement, knew he wasn't as repentant about it she should be Once she'd disappeared upstairs, Boomer returned his attention to his nephew. He'd hiccupped again before spitting up over the professor's shoulder.

Coal's tense body finally relaxed and he went limp with exhaustion. The professor shifted him downward, so he was being cradled and wiped his mouth with his bib. He then secured his pacifier to his mouth, allowing him to suckle the rubber end. The soothing gesture proved to be more soothing than expected as Coal's eyes started to droop. Soon he was asleep, the red from his fit receding from his little face as well as the burning heat. "I guess all that screaming wore him out."

"I can't believe all he needed was a burp." Bubbles grumbled, a bit disconcerted at not being able to help with her nephew. She then turned to Boomer with a frown. "And some help you were."

Blond head spinning to face his girlfriend, Boomer could only shrug. "I don't know anything about babies."

"Obviously." Bubbles said before turning to the professor and Coal.

As Boomer, stared at Bubbles he remembered what Blossom said before she had Coal. Bubbles wants a dozen babies. The thought of dealing with a dozen screaming babies each with superpowers of their own made him ill. After having witnessed the fit Coal threw over some gas doubled that feeling. If there was one thing this little scene demonstrated, it was that he wasn't anywhere near ready to be a dad. He'd have to be a bit nicer to Mojo and Brick. Especially Brick. "When are Brick and Blossom supposed to come and get him?"

"They should be here soon." The professor carefully handed a sleeping Coal to his sugar Puff aunt. "I'm going to change my shirt. Just sit with him and let him sleep. It's about time for his nap anyway."

Bubbles nodded as the professor went up the stairs to his room. She carefully went to the couch and sat down. Coal barely made a sound as he slept soundly in his aunt's arms. Boomer carefully reached for the remote and turned down the volume. When he sat beside Bubbles, he looked down at his slumbering nephew. "I can't believe he went from being so loud to being so quiet."

"He's a baby. That's what babies do." Bubbles said, before bringing him up to kiss his cheek. "I can't wait to have a baby. She'd be so cute. Not that Coal isn't cute, but think of me with a little girl."

Boomer let himself imagine for a second and silently admitted that Bubbles would make a pretty baby. Especially if any baby of hers had that sparkle in their eyes like she had. "Of course, you'd want a little girl first."

Bubbles giggled cutely as she snuggled a sleeping Coal. "A few girls, maybe a boy or two." She mused aloud, babies on the mind now that she was in Coal's company.

The three of them were joined by the professor a few minutes later and the three of them appreciated the peace and silence. After about an hour, Blossom's red car shined as it pulled up to the end of the drive. The professor stood up and stretched. "I'll get his bag."

As the door was opening, Coal chose that moment to rouse from his slumber. As he yawned his pacifier fell from his mouth and he turned toward the door. His ruby eyes were blurry from sleep, but the twin red flashes he saw coming through were unmistakable. Blinking himself awake, Coal saw his parents and smiled wide.

"AAAHHHH!" He squealed as he waved his arms excitedly.

"Fireball!" Blossom smiled as she quickly walked up to Bubbles and Coal. Despite his smiling face, she noticed the dried tears on his face. "Oh, what happened? Why was he crying?"

"Just some bad gas and an upset stomach." The professor said while coming in with Coals' packed diaper bag.

The adults talked amongst themselves Coal snuggled into his Mommy's hold. While they were talking, his Daddy came up and rubbed his warm hand over his spiky hair. He flashed a gummy smile his Daddy's way. He may have a lot of people who like to snuggle and cuddle with him, but his parents were definitely his favorite people. He snuggled closer to his Mommy and warmed under his Daddy's touch.

Hello, my lovelies. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. More Coal shenanigans to come with a bit of firepower along the way. Maybe he'll spend some of that time with Mojo. Who knows.

Also, next week RockStar my original story will be updating. You can read it on FictionPress and Wattpad. The links for both are on my profile. Thank you all so much for following me across the web to support me in this endeavor. I wouldn't have been brave enough with my first supporters online.

Love you all.

Until Next Time