No one ever held you/No single moment of truth


Blossom stood by the nurse's station, skimming through her patient's charts, her brow furrowed in concentration. Fern, one of the nurses, strode over and placed a chart atop of the one Blossom was reading.

"Hayley's back. She's desperate for a kidney." She said, indicating that she was now under Blossom's care.

A couple of other nurses who were sitting behind the station both sighed and tutted with sympathy.

"Oh really?" Jenny, another nurse said, her expression caring. "I was hoping we'd seen the last of her last time she left when her condition improved."

Fern nodded. "Me too. But, she's back, and really needs a kidney, and soon. Hopefully we can fast track her on the list, it's pretty crucial she gets one."

Blossom had been reading her notes and listening to the nurse's chatter at the same time. "Chronic kidney disease. She's been in before then?" She asked.

"Yeah, when you left, she was here for months. Left when her condition improved a little with dialysis. But she's gone downhill fast just lately. She's been sent back here to basically wait for her kidney." Fern explained.

"I see." Blossom said. Her brow knotted in confusion as she looked at her name. Hayley Paxton. Hayley Paxton? Why did she know that name? She was certain she knew the name. "Are you sure she wasn't here when I was?" Blossom asked. "Her name seems really familiar."

"No." Fern answered casually. "Check her notes, you weren't working here when she was admitted last."

Blossom nodded, seeing she was right. "Well, I better go introduce myself."

As Blossom entered Hayley Paxton's room, she suddenly realized quite quickly why she recognized the woman's name. Hayley Paxton, with her brown hair and brown eyes, and even a similar bone structure, looked a lot like her brother, Jeremy Paxton.

Blossom froze, a little stunned as she put two and two together in her mind. Hayley looked up at her, a little confused, smiling slightly as Blossom pulled herself together.

"Hello Miss. Paxton." Blossom stammered slightly, putting her doctor's smile on her face. "I'm Dr. Utonium; and I'll be your doctor while you're here."

"Hello Dr. Utonium. You can call me Hayley; I'm more than likely going to be here long enough so we may as well be on a first name basis from the get go." Hayley replied with a kind smile. Jeremy didn't have a kind smile, even when they were seeing each other before it happened.

Blossom smiled back. "Right well, hopefully you won't be here forever and we can find you a kidney as soon as possible. And, my name is Blossom, if you want to do first names." She added.

Hayley smiled again. "I know your name, of course I do! The Powerpuff girls and all. Well, women now."

Blossom nodded. "Yep, that's right. Well, just give your red button a press if you need anything and I'm going to get onto the renal consultant that's on call today, okay? We'll try and keep you as comfortable as we possibly can while we track down a kidney for you."

Hayley thanked her as Blossom swiftly left the room. She thundered down a few corridors till she got to the staff room, where she stopped, standing in front of the lockers and breathing heavily.

Jeremy's sister was here. And under her care. Could she deal with that?

Yes. Of course she could. Of course she would. It wasn't Jeremy himself. And he hadn't been seen in Townsville for years, not since he was threatened by three very pissed off Rowdyruffs to never bother showing his face here again. His sister was pretty ill. Her quality of life on dialysis was abysmal and if she didn't get a kidney soon she would die. Would he come back to see her?

Blossom thought deeply about the few weeks she dated Jeremy years ago - if you could even call their handful of dates 'dating'. She remembered him mentioning a sister, who had kidney problems. But that was all he'd said. Nothing about them being particularly close.

It would be okay. She couldn't not treat her. Hayley hadn't done anything wrong. Blossom wondered if she knew as she straightened her scrubs and headed back outside.

No, she couldn't have known. How could you look someone in the eye if you knew your brother had drugged and raped them? You couldn't, surely?


"Blossom, are you okay?" Tess asked, moving her head so she was in Blossom's field of vision. "You've been holding that spoonful of soup in the air for like 10 minutes, I think it's cool enough to eat now. And duh, ice breath?"

Blossom shook out of her stupor, looking at Tess apologetically as she sat opposite her in the hospital cafeteria. "Sorry, I was in a world of my own."

"Hmm, I noticed. Which one are you worrying about?" She asked, referring to a patient, as she took a bite out of her sandwich. Blossom and Tess hadn't always seen eye to eye. They studied together at medical school, then were both placed at Townsville General Hospital to do their internship, along with Tess' surgeon boyfriend Tom, and fellow doctor Ethan. Tess had always seen Blossom as major competition, which she was. She'd been the golden girl, and Tess was right to see her as a rival.

But since she'd returned to work after settling down and having a couple of kids, she sensed something different in Blossom. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Tess had never asked, but she could feel it.

Maybe it was just age. Maybe motherhood? She wasn't sure, but she'd seemed different. To be honest, Tess had found the whole thing weird when she'd first left. It was weird to her how she'd disappeared that night at the club years ago, and then not came back to work for several years. But Blossom hadn't offered to explain, so Tess didn't ask - she didn't want to pry.

But now, Blossom sat in front of her with a faraway look in her eye, and Tess felt that feeling again. What was up with her?

"Oh, it's my kidney transplant patient. She's pretty sick. And so young to be potentially so close to death. She's only 29. I just hope they find a donor for her soon." Blossom mumbled, sipping her soup and cringing at how cold it had gotten.

"Oh right, Hayley Paxton? Yeah, she's a nice lady. I take it none of her family are a match?" Tess asked casually, giving Blossom another look at the strange way her eye twitched at the mention of Hayley Paxton's family.

"I assume not. I mean I didn't see any mention of it in her notes, but she's been dealing with CKD for a few years, if one of them was a match they'd have helped her by now surely?" Blossom mused; for once actually hoping one particular member of Hayley's family wasn't a match.

Tess shrugged. "Nothing surprises me in this place anymore Blossom. There are some monsters out there."

"There sure are." Blossom replied quietly. Tess gave her a searching glance.

"Hey Blossom… We're friends, right?"

Blossom granted her a look of confusion. "Yes, of course - why?"

"Right, well, you don't have to answer me, but - well when you left before, it was a little strange. What happened?" Tess questioned, lowering her voice. "I mean, we heard Dr. Collins had asked you to go to Mandeville for 3 months and that you had gone, but then we never saw you again. We heard from maternity you were expecting Blake, so we kind of just expected you'd come back after your maternity leave was up, but you never did. Then you started working here again like 5 years later. The last time I saw you, you just disappeared. I don't know if you remember - it was the late Christmas do - at Temptress. God, it was so long ago - do you remember?"

Blossom felt cold dread hit her, she'd been waiting for this conversation with Tess for a while now, or from Tom or Ethan or some of the other doctors she'd originally been with the night the attack occurred. Yeah, she remembered.

She sighed, knowing she should probably be honest but didn't want the pity or sympathy. It was nice having a close doctor friend - and she'd always got the feeling Tess wasn't that fond of her when they trained together. But now they seemed to get on so much better; she didn't want Tess to suddenly treat her differently.

"You don't have to answer…" Tess said again, looking a little like she was regretting ever saying anything. "Did something happen that night, or something?"

The face Blossom pulled must have landed her in it, as Tess' eyes widened as she realized she was right. "Blossom what happened?"

Blossom sighed, looking around the canteen quickly to make sure no one was sitting too closely. "Look, if I tell you I want you to promise you won't treat me any differently, okay? It was a long time ago now and I'm fine."

Tess looked concerned; she nodded.

"Remember the guy that I went over to the bar and ended up chatting with? He was an ex, of sorts - well even ex seems too strong. We didn't date. We went on like, a couple of dates and that was it. But he was keen, much keener then I was. Anyway, he got talking to me at Temptress that night, and after assuring me he had a girlfriend and just wanted to catch up, he put something in my drink when I wasn't looking. I woke up at his place a few hours later. I'm sure you can guess what transpired while I was unconscious." Blossom whispered quickly, not tearing her eyes off Tess', she wanted to gauge her reaction.

Tess' eyes popped, and she put a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god, Blossom! Oh my - I'm so sorry! God, I had no idea. It makes sense now… We ran into some of the girls from gynaecology and ended up moving seats. We didn't see you again after that. Everyone said you'd probably gone home with someone…"

Blossom shrugged and sighed lightly. "I did, without my recollection, or consent." She said dryly.

"I'm so sorry! We should have been looking out for you! Oh my god, I feel terrible." Tess said, and she looked like she meant it.

"Tess, it's no one's fault. He had that planned, he planned to take someone home with him that night, and unfortunately for me I was whom he chose. It's normally an acquaintance, isn't it? An ex, a work colleague. The moment he saw me there he would have decided it was going to be me." Blossom assured her.

Tess was silent, but nodded slightly numbly in agreement with Blossom.

"Did he go down for it?"

"No, it didn't lead to a prosecution. I wanted little to do with it all anyway." Blossom muttered.

"So he's still out there?!" Tess asked, outraged.

Blossom nodded, wondering if she should add that it was Hayley's brother.

"That's ridiculous! You knew who he was! You knew his address! How could –" She spluttered.

"He used a condom." Blossom said bluntly. "The forensic surgeon I spoke to told me it was the 'new rapists trick'. That way there's a scarce amount of evidence - the rohypnol in my system was trace amounts. I'm guessing my powers burned it off quicker. So it was just his word against mine."

"That is foul, that's disgusting! I mean where's the justice in that?!" Tess cried, angry for her friend.

"I know, but there's no point dwelling on it. I also found out I was expecting Blake at that time, so I just had to get on with it you know? The reason I didn't just come back was because I started my maternity leave when I got back from Mandeville. I was in no fit state to return to work anyway. Having my son forced me to get better. I had to get better, I had to take care of myself, I had this little person who I loved so much relying on me. It kicked my butt to get better. For him. I'm okay." She reassured her, noting the tears threatening to escape from her friend's eyes.

"Wow, you sound so strong. That is just awful. And I'm so sorry that happened to you. How do you do it? Walk around here like nothing happened… Surely it's something that you think about every day?" Tess asked, almost in awe.

"Well, yes, in some ways. It kind of lives with me. But it doesn't dominate me. It's not that I don't feel the pain, it's just that I'm not afraid of the hurting anymore." Blossom shrugged. "And I don't think about it every day. Fortunately I've got a lot of positive things and people in my life to focus on instead."


Butch swiftly zipped out of the open automatic doors at the entrance of the gym, tucking himself round a corner and giving it a few seconds before proceeding down the block, just for safety's sake.

The way he saw it, he only had a matter of days left working at the gym; Buttercup was going to take over his job and continue her self defence classes next week - what did it matter if he skipped out on his 'gym monitoring' duties for one afternoon? He'd taught all his classes, 'filed' all his paperwork, he had no clients booked for that afternoon - there was no way he was going to stand and watch people using the gym equipment incorrectly for 3 hours before he could go home.

There happened to be a burger joint not too far from the gym, he planned to go get himself a snack before returning home to whatever delicious meal Buttercup may have attempted to whip up...

Deciding it was better to walk than risk flying (he could either be spotted in the air, his green streak be seen or actually run into an airborne relative), Butch rounded the corner leading to the fast food joint, only to come face to face with his son. They almost ran into each other, but froze at the sight of one another.

Both took a few steps backwards, reversing around the corner, not taking their eyes off each other till they could no longer see the other.

Shit, I can't let my kid see I'm skipping work! Butch thought, frantically trying to figure out what to do.

Dammit, what if Butch tells Mom I'm skipping Math? She'll kill me, Jay thought hurriedly.

In unison, both carried on round the corner, guilty expressions smeared on their faces, and slowly walked passed each other, doing a synchronized shoving-of-the-hands-into-pockets.

Once they were a few paces from one another, they both stopped again, turning to face each other at the same time.

"Don't tell your Mom I'm skipping work!" Butch cried, the same time Jay yelped: "Don't tell Mom I'm skipping Math!"

They smirked at each other, visibly wilting with relief at the silent agreement of secrecy.

"Hey, wanna get a burger?" Butch offered, cocking his head in the direction he was going.

"Sure, just as long as you're not going to interrogate me on why I'm playing hookie." Jay obliged, joining Butch by his side.

Butch scoffed. "Do you know me at all? You're looking at the guy who held the record for the least homework handed in in a semester."

"That's quite the achievement." Jay grinned as they walked in the same stride.

"Sure is. Was in the yearbook and everything." Butch smiled as they arrived at the burger bar, and Butch held the door open for him.


"So," Butch started, as he unwrapped his burger. Before he could continue, Jay groaned and sighed loudly, leaning on the table in the booth they sat in. "What?" Butch asked instead, confused.

"You said you wouldn't interrogate me!" Jay groaned. "It's only maths! Surely just as long as I can count, add, subtract, multiply and divide I'll do okay in life! I mean really, when was the last time you used algebra? I'm actually asking you?"

"Whoa, whoa hey slow down! I told you I don't care about any of that!" Butch said hurriedly, putting his palms out in front of him in defence.

"You don't care about me skipping class?" Jay asked a little incredulously.

"No." Butch said, taking his first bite out of his burger.

"You don't care about me missing out on my education?" Jay reworded his question, astounded.

"Nope." Butch confirmed through a mouthful of burger. "You get what you put in with school. But I don't see it as the be all and end all. I didn't put a lot in, I didn't get a lot out of it, but, I'm happy. And that's what counts. The more you know, and all that. Are you happy?" Butch asked him.

Jay looked down at his burger, picking at a couple of the seeds on the top of the bun. "Well, yeah."

"Well then who cares if you skip a class every now and then. Just, don't get caught." Butch instructed. "And that's a life lesson for plenty of scenarios there."

Jay smiled, picking his burger up and taking a bite. "You're a weird Dad."

"I'm gunna take that as a compliment." Butch murmured, enjoying his confirmation that he was his Dad. He took what he could get considering he didn't actually call him Dad. "Hey, that reply seemed a little delayed. Everything okay bud?"

Jay gave him an exasperated look. "Butch, no interrogating!"

"I'm not interrogating, I'm asking what's up! I know I'm a weird Dad and all, but I am still your Dad." Butch said with what he hoped was a responsible looking expression.

Jay rolled his eyes, but when he looked up at Butch's expectant glance he sighed. "I'm fine!"

"Yeah? It's got nothing to do with what happened the other day at Mitch's?" Butch asked, watching Jay's expression carefully.

"Well, that did suck, but no, I'm not upset by that, not really.." He shrugged.

"Not really?"

"Well, no. I could have guessed it would happen at some point. He's not my Dad is he? And now I'm getting in the way of his love life so I'm becoming a nuisance." He complained; his voice full of resentment.

Butch's expression hardened. "You're not a nuisance. And I don't blame you for not wanting to go over there. Princess is a chore of a woman without a doubt. If you wanted, I could talk to him. Try and see what he's playing at? And if that fails, we can just lessen your time at his, if you don't wanna be there?"

Jay shrugged again. "I guess you could do that. Only if you were subtle, like not Butch subtle, actually subtle."

"Dude, I can be subtle, you can almost spell my name with the words in subtle." Butch scoffed, and Jay narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure that out.

"No you can't…" He murmured and Butch paused for a moment.

"Maybe I should have tried harder at school." He commented, before shrugging it off.

"I just don't want him to think I've asked you to talk to him or something, cos then he'll think I actually care - and I don't." Jay said as he finished his burger and leant back in his seat.

"Right, of course. I reckon I can do that. Subtly." He winked, and Jay rolled his eyes again.


Visiting times ran from 8.30am to 8pm on the ward Hayley was on, with only an hours protected meal time at 12.30pm, which Blossom really detested right now; it was a long time to try and avoid Hayley's room.

She detested that too, that she wanted to avoid a patient's room. She was her doctor; she couldn't avoid her! But she wanted to, which made her feel a little bit ashamed. The past week Hayley Paxton had been staying at Townsville General, Blossom hadn't let who her relative was affect the level of care she received from her at all, but she'd busied herself in other areas at times when she should have perhaps gone to chat with Hayley, rather than send a nurse in.

What made it worse was how lovely Hayley was. She was ever so kind, and ever so ill, but acted as if her kidney disease was no ailment to her. It made Blossom respect her, and feel her respect for herself lower as she'd scamper past her room quickly, or feel glad when she'd walk in and Hayley had no visitors.

But Blossom breathed in deeply as she strode towards Hayley's room to check in on her. She had made the decision to go check on Hayley and stay with her as long as she could. She would have a chat with her and get to know her a little, lord knew she'd been nothing but brief every time she had been to see her.

"Good morning Hayley, how are you feeling this morn –" Blossom stopped mid-sentence, staring at the two people in the room in shock, her eyes wide as Hayley's chart clattered to the floor.

Hayley gave her a look of mild concern and surprise as Blossom stood stock still, staring at her visitor.

Jeremy turned around, smiling coolly at Blossom. "Well hello there stranger, it's been years. Like what, 5 or 6, something like that?"

Blossom's hands began shaking profusely; she was shaking all over as she stared at him, unable to take her eyes off him. She watched him scanning her body from top to bottom, and went lightheaded and nauseous at the thought of him looking at her, remembering what he'd seen before, what he'd done. When he was finished, he smiled a satisfied smile.

"Dr. Utonium, are you okay?" Hayley had asked, her tone anxious, it had broken Blossom from her stupor.

She shook her head no, but then realized what she'd done and nodded, bending down and fumbling for the chart on the ground.

"S-sorry, sorry about that. I, I skipped breakfast this morning. Just went a little lightheaded, that's all." Blossom stammered, still watching Jeremy, her eyes wide with fright.

"You looked like you'd seen a ghost." Jeremy commented; a smug grin on his face still.

Hayley gave him a confused look. "So do you two know each other then?"

"We dated." Jeremy answered, looking her over again and making Blossom shudder and feel even sicker.

"Only briefly." Blossom managed to mutter, finally tearing her eyes from Jeremy to Hayley again. "I wouldn't even call it dating."

"Ahh, I see. God, who haven't you dated?" Hayley asked, directing her question to her brother. "I didn't know a Powerpuff girl was in your little black book!"

He shrugged, still smiling. "Guess I've been around."

"This isn't awkward or anything is it?" Hayley said, glancing from Jeremy to Blossom. "Because if it is, he can leave –"

"Of course not!" Jeremy responded hurriedly. "We ended on good terms, didn't we?"

Blossom didn't answer, just gave Jeremy an alarmed look, feeling about an inch tall. Hayley had picked up on Blossom's fearful demeanour and was confused.

"Are you sure you're okay? You're as pale as a sheet." Hayley said; placing a hand on Blossom's arm as she approached the bed. Blossom whipped it away quickly, making Hayley jump.

Blossom nodded distractedly. "I need to check your blood pressure."

"Okay." Hayley said; uncertainty in her voice as she held her arm out for Blossom to wrap the cuff around it.

"So how is she doing Blossom?" Jeremy asked, and Blossom did her best to block out the sound of him saying her name from echoing around in her brain.

Blossom froze again, the air she'd been pumping into the cuff deflating. She needed to concentrate. She was already hearing the flashback, if she didn't concentrate, if she blinked or even lost control a teeny tiny bit, it would take hold, and she'd be right there, seeing it.

The blank white ceiling, his blank white ceiling popped into her head, as did the pale blue lampshade. She squeezed her eyes shut momentarily, then looked at the cuff in her hands, trying her hardest to block the flashback out. She hadn't had one in so long. Now he was here it was like she was right back there.

"Blossom do you want me to call a nurse? You really don't seem right." Hayley suggested. Blossom came back to earth at the sound of Hayley's concerned voice.

She took the cuff off Hayley's arm, placing it down on the side shakily and fiddled with Hayley's IV. "I think I will get Nurse Watts in here. I umm, I just need to go to the, umm. Yeah I need to err -" She never finished her burbled sentence as she headed for the door to exit swiftly.

"Hope you're feeling better next time we see you Blossom," Jeremy said as Blossom froze, halfway out of the doorway. "Now Hayley's hospitalized again, I won't be leaving her side. Maybe next time we run into each other we could catch up?"

Blossom didn't reply; she only pushed herself stiffly out of the room, shooting towards the nearest ladies room. The moment she stepped inside a cubicle, she puked into the bowl.

After vomiting up basically everything she'd eaten that day, there was a light knock on the stall door.

"Hello? Are you okay in there?" She knew that voice. It was Tess.

Blossom tried to answer but was only sick again in response. The door wasn't locked, only pushed to, and Tess pushed it open. "I'm coming in." She warned. "Blossom? Are you okay?" Tess cried, patting her friend's back as Blossom spat into the bowl, catching her breath.

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine." She stammered, wiping her mouth with the tissue Tess had passed her.

"Blossom, you're white as a sheet. And you're shaking." She said, clutching her hand. "You're not fine, you look a mess!"

"I just, I skipped breakfast." Blossom mumbled, trying to suppress the throaty tone to her voice as she kept the lump in her throat at bay. "Or maybe I'm just coming down with something."

Tess gave her a skeptical look. "Are you forgetting I'm a doctor? I know all the excuses, and so do you. What's happened? Oh - baby number three?!" Her tone had gotten excited then, and Blossom shook her head rapidly.

"No no, no baby number three." Blossom assured her.

"Oh. Well, that's okay - good even, I'd miss you if you went on maternity again. Is it, is it what we spoke about last week?" Tess asked delicately.

Blossom gave her a stunned look. This was exactly what she didn't want, being treated differently because of what happened to her. Now every time she was upset Tess would think she secretly knew why. But her mind argued with her: She is right this time though Blossom! This is about what you spoke about! Tell her! Tell her he is here! Tell her you can't possibly treat Hayley anymore!

Blossom swallowed, opening her mouth to explain to Tess who Hayley's brother was, when Tess pulled this face at her. It was a face full of sympathy. Pity. Tess felt sorry for her. There was concern in this look too, but mostly it was sympathy and pity. And Blossom hated it. She didn't want to be on the receiving end of that look. She detested that look. That look was for the weak, for the ones who couldn't quite hack it, who needed help. Blossom didn't need help. She could do things just fine herself.

So she shook her head, hardening her expression. "No Tess. I told you, I don't want to be treated differently. I told you that in the confidence that you wouldn't treat me any differently - and that I could trust you to not constantly bring it up."

"Blossom I'm not! It's just, I'm a doctor, you're presenting signs of someone going through a flashback or repeating trauma in their mind. So I put two and two together." Tess said and Blossom frowned at her.

"You also just asked me if I was pregnant?" The redhead countered with.

"Yeah, just in case your symptoms were from that…" Tess reasoned lamely.

"Well you don't need to analyze my 'symptoms', okay? I'm your friend not your patient." Blossom said, pulling herself together a little and standing upright. She flattened her scrubs out and patted at her hair. "I'm fine. I feel better now anyway. It's because I haven't eaten, and I'm worrying about my patients, plus it's stressful at home at the moment. Don't worry about it." She said, walking purposely to the sink, washing her hands, then leaving.

Tess watched her go, but she didn't believe a word of what she had said.


When Blossom opened her front door that evening, she was bombarded with an onslaught of noise: a child screeching, to be exact. She glanced into the living room, noting that the TV was on and talking to itself at full volume, which wasn't helping. After going inside, turning it down and switching it off, she started searching for her children and partner.

Her first child was sitting halfway up the stairs, his nose deep in a book.

"Blake! Are you okay?" She asked, approaching him. "What's going on?"

"Rosie left the fridge door open for hours and the kitchen's all wet. She also did a load of colouring on Dad's files. He was really mad and told her off and she's upstairs crying. Personally? I think we should just stick her up for adoption. Think about how quiet the house would be if we did." Blake explained. "I'd make a really good only child."

"Blake, that's no way to speak about your sister." Blossom said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Think about it." Blake repeated, his face serious, before he went back to his book.

Blossom sighed, hanging her purse up. "Where are they both?"

"Rosie's howling in her room. Dad's clearing up the kitchen." Blake said without looking up.

Blossom headed for the kitchen first. Brick was on the floor kneeling in a few inches of water that was covering half the kitchen, it hadn't quite spread to all of it. He was rummaging through the fridge, trying to figure out what was salvageable, when he heard a sound behind him and looked around.

"Thank God you're home. That girl is a fucking nightmare." He spat angrily, screwing his face up at some stinky fish fillets that were not as fresh as their former selves.

"Nice to see you too, sweetheart." Blossom replied dryly, reaching for the mop to start clearing up the floor. "I'm sure it was just an accident."

"How do you –" Brick started to ask but Blossom interrupted.

"Blake told me. You really do have to watch her every minute of every day. Even when she's sleeping." She pressed.

"How can you forget to close the refrigerator door for like 4 or 5 hours?!" Brick cried, exasperated.

"How come no one noticed for like 4 or 5 hours?" Blossom questioned, ticking Brick off even more.

"Because we went out. We ate out. I didn't fucking know I had to check every damn door and/or cupboard in this house before I went out. I assumed they were smart enough by now to know to close it behind them!" Brick continued to grumble. "I didn't fucking sign up for this."

"Yes, you do have to check - they are children. And actually yes, you did sign up for this. You said, oh what were your words? 'Rosie's always an angel for me'? Wasn't that what you said?" Blossom countered.

"Oh can it will you Bloss? I am not in the mood. She's been impossible all day. And then when she did calm down she decided she wanted to do some coloring - I went to grab her some paper but rather than waiting for me like I asked, she opened up my briefcase! Now my Johnson's advertisement deal is covered with flowers, ponies and fucking knock knock jokes! She wrote knock knock jokes on my files!" Brick explained irritably. Blossom was smirking, trying not to laugh. "It's not funny! Imagine she scribbled all over one of your medical journals or something."

Blossom straightened her expression, detecting he really wasn't in the mood. "And to make matters worse she hasn't stopped screaming for hours. I thought we got over that stage when they weren't newborns anymore!"

"I'll go see her." Blossom mumbled, heading out the door.

"Yes, because you'll be able to magically make it all better! If I can't make her stop yelling what makes you think you'll be able to?" Brick called as she left the room. Blossom didn't respond, only glared as she headed up the stairs. Home sweet home.

As she hovered past him, Blake reminded her: "Just think about it."

"Blake, go down and help your father clean up the kitchen." Blossom instructed.

He muttered a "This is so unfair!" As he slammed his book shut and hovered down towards the kitchen.

The volume of Rosie's screeching got louder as Blossom entered her bedroom. She had her head buried in her pillow but she was still at an eardrum shattering volume.

"Rosie!" Blossom called, but Rosie didn't even stir. This is what happened when you were a super powered family. Blossom wondered what the neighbours must be thinking as she drew in a deep breath to bellow. "ROSALIE!"

Rosie stopped, looking up sniffling. "Mommy!" She cried, rushing to Blossom so quickly Blossom nearly fell over. She held onto her tightly, stroking her soft red hair. "Mommy! Daddy's been a nightmare all day! He's so grumpy and angry all the time! And he shouted at me like all the time! Everything he said was a shout! I was only trying to brighten up his work stuff, and, and I didn't mean to leave the fridge open! It was an accident! I forgot…"

"Shhh." Blossom said, stroking her hair. "It's okay honey, accidents happen."

"D-D-Daddy shouted at me Mommy!" Rosalie urged. "He was so mad and his face went all red like his eyes! Like a dragon!"

The pink puff tried not to smirk at her description. "I'm sure he did. Although your intentions were good, you mustn't draw on any of Mommy or Daddy's important documents. You have your own coloring books and paper, if you'd have waited like Daddy told you to he'd have got them out for you." Blossom scolded gently.

"I was just trying to be nice." She sniffled, wiping at her eyes.

Blossom couldn't help but smile. "I know. Well, why don't we go downstairs and help Daddy clear up the kitchen? We can also apologize for colouring on his files, and Daddy can say sorry for shouting at you. Sound like a plan?"

Rosie nodded a little reluctantly. "He better say sorry." She said flatly.

"He will." Blossom replied with a smile. "And you will too."

As they made their way down the stairs, Rosie snuggled into Blossom's chest. "I wish you could stay at home with us. Dad's so crabby all the time."

Blossom half smiled, thinking about who could quite possibly be waiting for her tomorrow at work, her stomach rolling uncomfortably.

"Sometimes I do too." Blossom mumbled.


Once the kitchen floor was cleared up, a load of groceries ordered online to arrive the next day, and a pizza on its way, Blossom stood in the kitchen at the sink cleaning the few dishes that had accumulated throughout the day. As she stood there and scrubbed at a distracted pace, she thought about her day and what had happened.

She kept playing it back over and over again in her mind. Jeremy stood there, smiling in a self-satisfied way, watching the way she was slowly crumbling just at the mere sight of him. He'd made her feel so small so quickly - and the way he looked at her was so unnerving.

Blossom was furious at herself for her reaction. She wished she could have been stronger, as if it was no bother to her that he was there. Maybe next time, when she could expect his presence, she could keep her cool a little more. She didn't want him to think he'd won. Because he hadn't. He may have won as in getting away with it, but he hadn't won her, he wouldn't dominate her.

She'd come so far in not letting it beat her, when it very almost had a few times over the years. Not having to see him had obviously worked wonders for her recovery, because the moment she had come face to face with him again, after several years, she felt like she'd just gone to pieces right in front of him.

The image in her head of him drinking her in the moment he saw her; it made her shudder. And every time she saw it in her head, she then saw flashes of him with her. It seemed harder to push away when his face was now so fresh in her mind.

Blossom froze, staring blankly out of the window as some images took hold of her in her head. She could feel hands touching her waist, stroking her hips softly with his thumbs. When she realized that there actually were hands holding onto her hips, her breath hitched, and she was quick to yank them away.

"Whoa, whoa – hey! What's wrong?" Brick said; feeling a little stung that Blossom had pulled away from him like that.

She dumped the glass she'd been cleaning down in the bowl, wiping her hands on her front and taking a few steps away from Brick. He noticed her hands were trembling, and she had a faraway look in her eyes.

He took a step closer but she took another backward away from him.

"Blossom?" Brick said, confused.

"I'm sorry." Blossom muttered, her breathing rapid as she pulled her wet hands through her hair. "I can't breathe."

It suddenly dawned on Brick what was happening to her: She was having a flashback. He felt a stab of despair; she hadn't had one in ages, months - maybe even longer. He'd been beginning to think they'd become a thing of the past, something she'd moved passed or learned to control.

"Blossom, it's me. Brick." Brick said, taking a step toward her. "Just take a long, steady breath."

Blossom exhaled slowly, nodding. There was recognition in her eyes now as she looked at him, also the customary blush from embarrassment that followed.

She took a step toward him and he opened his arms, holding her tightly. "Where did that come from?" Brick asked as he rested his head on top of hers.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry - I don't know." She mumbled. "I've had a rough day."

"Mine's not been easy either." He replied, thinking deeply. He was really bummed out. She'd been so much more herself lately. Something must have happened, something must have triggered this. "Was there any kind of trigger, do you think?"

Blossom thought about Jeremy at the hospital. She also thought about what Brick might do if she told him he was there. She didn't want to act too brashly. And she certainly didn't want Brick ending up in prison. Who was to say he would even come back to see Hayley again? He knew three super powered men were after him if he bugged Blossom again. Maybe he'd taken a chance, and when he came face to face with Blossom, maybe he wouldn't risk it again?

Who was she kidding? She remembered Jeremy's words. He fully intended to visit again.

But if Blossom told Brick, he'd go all evil villain on his ass. Which she wasn't disputing he didn't deserve; he did. But Blossom didn't want to feel like a damsel in distress, it wasn't her style. She'd had enough of feeling like that ever since it had happened.

Last time she'd been around Jeremy, she'd been pregnant, and there wasn't a lot she could do even if she had wanted to. This time, she wouldn't take it. She wouldn't involve Brick until she felt she had to, for her own pride's sake.

Plus, she'd quite like to have Brick around. She was after all quite fond of him - and she'd rather they raised their children together - Brick would find it a lot harder to do so from a prison cell. Which is where he'd inevitably end up if she told him Jeremy had been in her general vicinity that day.

"Blossom? Have you gone again?" Brick asked, breaking her from her thoughts.

"No, no I'm here. Sorry, I was just trying to think of a trigger. I guess I was just thinking about it again." She muttered, forcing a smile onto her face. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be so hostile."

"You hostile? I think I've been the hostile one. Sorry if I was a little pissy when you got in. Just these kids, they're harder to deal with then the stupid desk jockeys at work. But, I'll get there." Brick said, pushing a strand of hair out of her face as he spoke.

"You just have to learn how to deal with Rosie, the key is to never let her out of your sight, ever. In fact, we should probably go and check what she's right doing now." Blossom murmured.


"Okay - so you'll call if you need anything? And I mean anything, okay?" Buttercup said as she grabbed her coat from the rack by the door.

"Yes - I'll call you if we need anything, I'll call you if anything bad happens - which it won't!" Butch assured her. "We'll be just fine. Almost as if I've looked after them before - like they were my own flesh and blood or something." He added dryly.

Buttercup nodded slowly, grabbing her purse. "Okay, well - remember to make sure they nap cos they're SO cranky if they don't get at least one nap in. Two if you can wangle it. And Ivy likes it if you put some music on if she really just won't settle -"

"Buttercup I know - hard rock songs as lullabies, I know. And I am definitely not going to forget to make them sleep so you don't need to worry about that. Don't worry about anything okay hon' I got this." Butch said, wrapping his hands around her waist and giving her a quick kiss. "Ohh I forgot just how good this uniform is on you."

It was Buttercup's first day back at work. And she was now feeling very nervous to leave her babies behind.

"Oh my god you two are just gross." Jay complained as Butch chuckled, kissing her once more before letting go of her so she could leave for work. "Mom if we don't leave now I'm flying to school by myself." He added; they were going to head off together leaving Butch with the car.

"Okay, okay I'm coming. Girls - give Mama one last kiss just one more." Buttercup cried, the three toddlers automatically bundling into her arms at the request, and showering her with dribbly wet kisses.

Jay groaned loudly. "I'm going to fly to school myself. Bye Mom, bye Butch. Bye mini satans."

They called goodbye to him as the triplets unleashed their mother and began to wave goodbye to her.

"Jay, wait up I'm done!" Buttercup called. "Oh, I'm having second thoughts. I can't leave them -"

"No you're not - go - be free!" Butch urged. "We'll be fine."

She must have turned around to them three or four times to say goodbye and tell them she loved them all, before finally flying off to catch up with Jay.

Butch watched at the door until she was a tiny dot in the distance. With a blissful sigh, he turned around to look at his three little girls who were all standing in the living room looking like tiny, adorable angels.

"And then there were four. Just Daddy, Emerald, Olive and Ivy. We're going to be okay, won't we girls? We'll be just fine." He said, smiling confidently at them. They smiled innocently back.

Out of nowhere, Olive unleashed her laser beams from her eyes for a millisecond, cutting the wire of the ceiling light fixture clean off, the glass shade crashing to the ground and breaking loudly.

Butch stared for a moment, watching the live wire dangling uselessly from the ceiling, his trail of vision going down to the broken glass shade on the floor.

"Oh fuck! Olive - what the hell?!" Butch cried.

"OH FUCK!" They all chorused in unison.

"No, shit - don't say that!" Butch cried, placing his hands on his head.

"SHIT!" They all exclaimed.

Butch stared at them all as they grinned at him. What had he signed himself up for?


"Yes, I've switched off the breaker. I need someone out ASAP, I have three two year olds here and no electricity. Which loosely translated means no TV. I'm literally surviving with the juice they have in their tablets - when the batteries run out in them I'm fucked." Butch told the electrician he was on the phone to.

"Fucked!" Olive cried in the background, and he shushed her.

"No man, not you. My potty mouthed children. 3pm? That's the earliest you can do? No, fine I'll take it. How much is this gunna set me back? $300?! Are you shitting me?!" He yelped.

"Are you shitting me!" Ivy hollered; Butch didn't even bother to hush her, he only groaned.

"Fine. Fine. $300. Oh it's $350 now - for the replacement ceiling light. Right. Great. Thanks. See you then." Butch ended the call with a groan. "$350 that little stunt has just cost me Olive. You do realise I'm going to have to put you on the black market now to cover the costs, hmm?" He said, looking down at her with a sigh.

"Fuck!" She exclaimed once more and he groaned, covering his face in his hand. He dialled a different number on his cell phone, placing it to his ear with a sigh.

"Brick - hey man, it's your favouritest brother calling!" Butch began to schmooze.

"Boomer, why are you calling me from Butch's number?" Brick replied dryly, and Butch frowned deeply.

"Very funny - listen, I need to ask you if you could do me a HUGE fucking favour -" Butch began until Brick cut in with a haggard sigh.

"How much?" He asked.

Butch cringed as he answered him. "$350... Olive just fucking lazered off a light fixture about 0.10 seconds after Buttercup left the house. And it's my first day watching the kids while she goes back to work and I can't fuck things up this quick -"

"Fine. Fine I'll transfer it to you now." Brick said, and Butch sighed with relief.

"Brick you're a lifesaver - did I ever tell you just how much I love you?" Butch asked him sincerely and he heard his brother make a noise of disgust down the phone.

"Please don't."


r&r (: