And said:/Tell me the words you long to hear/And I'll sing them loud and clear


"Oh thank god you're home, I've been looking forward to this ice cream allll day!" Bubbles cried as she heard her front door open. Bridget and Bonnie's ears pricked up at the ice cream talk.

"Ice cream?" Bridget asked curiously.

"Erm, Bubbles I didn't get the chance to get the ice cream." Boomer muttered, and Bubbles pouted, turning to look at him and noticing the worried look on his face. She then noticed Rosalie making her way over to her cousins excitedly. Blake lagged behind, soundless and deep in thought.

"Is everything okay?" Bubbles asked, as Boomer handed her the newspaper and Blossom sat down quietly at their breakfast bar.

"Hey," Boomer said, hovering through to the lounge where the kids were. "Why don't we put some 'toons on. Daddy didn't manage to get some ice cream but, there's cookies in the kitchen cupboard."

"No ice cream?" Bridget asked sadly, wilting. She'd become quite accustomed to her Mom's craving.

"Cookiessssss!" Bonnie and Rosalie cried, fist pumping.

Blake hovered over to the sofa, picking up the TV remote and turning it onto their favourite channel. Boomer couldn't help but notice how odd he looked watching TV and not reading.

"Oh my god!" Bubbles squealed as she finished reading the article. "This is crazy! It's, it's absurd!"

Blossom sat with her head in her hands, leaning on the side. Bubbles stood beside her, placing her arms around her shoulders affectionately. "Blossom, I don't know what to say. This is awful! It's, it's a load of garbage!"

Boomer stepped out of the room as Blossom pulled her hands through her hair. "I don't know what to say either. I'm just speechless. I can't believe this. I'm so humiliated! And angry, and ashamed! Everyone knows now. Everyone who buys the Townsville Tribunal anyway! And what if they aren't the only paper to pick up the story? You know what they're like, if one of us is in the news it's normally all of them! And they're going to lap up a story like this. God, I feel so stupid and gross!"

There was a knock at the front door, but Bubbles barely heard it, she was too busy assuring her sister. Boomer must have got it, as him and Brick walked through the kitchen door a few moments later.

"I just saw it as Boomer called. I can't fucking believe it." Brick said, immediately joining Blossom's side. He went to touch her shoulder but, remembering how touchy she'd been lately, didn't. Blossom noticed it, and it made her feel worse. "It's bullshit, every word of it."

"Now everyone who reads this, everyone in town is going to think I'm some attention seeking liar who cries rape! No one is even going to believe it possible for me, a super powered being, to even be attacked like that." She reached forward and grabbed the article before Bubbles could stop her, and began reading aloud. "'Blossom Utonium, of the town's now semi retired crime fighting trio the Powerpuff Girls, and esteemed doctor at Townsville General Hospital, reportedly claims to have been drugged and raped roughly 6 years ago by an ex lover. The accused, a Townsville born citizen with no prior convictions, has opted to remain anonymous to protect his identity.' Aren't I entitled to anonymity, as the victim?! 'He says 'the accusation has turned my entire life upside down. I've had to leave town since it reportedly happened, but I finally decided to ignore the fear and take my life back. I have done nothing wrong and don't deserve to be treated this way'. The fear he is speaking of is of course assumed threats from well known ex villain, media marketing manager, and long term partner of Blossom Utonium, Brick Jojo. When asked if this is why he left town, the accused declined to comment.' He's lying! He's lied throughout the whole thing and made me look like a rotten excuse of a person! 'The incriminated says he just wants to bring some normality to his life again, and clear his name so that he can resettle back in his hometown of Townsville and continue his work in the arts: 'It's something I struggle with everyday, everywhere I go, wondering who she's lied to and what slanderous things have been spread about me. I find it quite disgusting as it does nothing for those who have truly experienced this harrowing ordeal.' I just, I can't even fathom this!"

"Stop reading it." Brick said, taking the paper from her hands and throwing it onto the floor. "What do you mean he's lying?"

Blossom froze momentarily. She knew it was Jeremy who had done this. He'd warned her, he'd told her she'd regret standing up to him. He'd left the hospital and gone straight to the press, and played the part of the falsely accused man whose life had been ripped apart. He was trying to break her down bit by bit.

But Blossom didn't want to tell them how she knew. It wasn't worth it, Brick would rip his head clean off his neck.

"She means Jeremy." Bubbles answered.

"It must have been him. Isn't it obvious? Who else would do this? The article reads as if they had an interview with 'the accused'. It's him, he's done this." Blossom said, almost hysterical with outrage and embarrassment.

"He must be back in town. It says he's 'taking his life back'." Bubbles added.

"Has he got a fucking death wish?" Boomer asked incredulously.

"Oh god," Blossom said, Boomer's words going over her head as something dawned on her. She leant on the table with her elbows again, head in her hands. "Oh my god the Professor and Kelly. What will they think?! I'm so humiliated. Everyone knows. Everyone thinks I lied. The Professor and Kelly, my colleagues at work. My patients! How am I going to face everyone?"

Brick looked stony as he clenched and unclenched his fists. He was thinking about what Blossom and Bubbles had said. It made sense, it did seem Jeremy himself had given the press this information. The only other people who knew were Blossom's own family and the police. It had to be him. All he was thinking about was finding the stupid bastard and making him pay for prolonging Blossom's suffering.

"Blossom you haven't done anything wrong. None of this is your fault. And, maybe it's about time the Professor knew about it anyway…" Bubbles suggested softly.

"Bubbles, I can't tell him. It'll break his heart, I'm just trying to protect him. He doesn't deserve to go through the suffering that comes with finding out someone you love has been through something like this. The same suffering I have to watch Brick deal with all the time. It's bad enough I had to do it to him, I'm not doing it to the Professor too." Blossom mumbled, not meeting Brick's eyes.

"Blossom, you haven't put me through anything." Brick muttered, glancing at Bubbles and Boomer a little awkwardly, then back at Blossom. He kind of wished him and her were alone, she'd never voiced these feelings to him before.

"Of course I have Brick! It's that psychologically devastating, it takes down everyone in its path. It manages to affect everyone. Of course you've been hurting too." Blossom said, still not able to look at him. Brick blinked, almost dumbfounded. She felt guilty for him going through stress during all this?

"But Blossom, it isn't your fault. It's his!" Brick cried.

"He's right Blossom. You've not done anything wrong. I think you should go talk to the Professor. He's better at handling things than you think." Bubbles said, squeezing her sister's shoulders warmly.

"I can't imagine anything worse right now. But I suppose we should go do some damage control." Blossom muttered.

"You can leave the kids here if you like?" Bubbles offered, and Blossom looked at her gratefully.

"Thank you. Both of you."

"Don't mention it." Boomer said.

"I'm sorry you didn't get your ice cream, Bubbles." Blossom added, giving her sister a pointed look.

"Oh, oh don't worry about that. Boomer can pop out and get some now." Bubbles said, nudging her husband who was nudging her back.

Blossom sharpened her knowing look, and Bubbles smiled a small smile. "How did you know?!" Bubbles yelped happily.

"I know everything." Blossom said, a smile on her face now. "Congratulations."


When Kelly opened the door and Blossom and Brick were standing there, she looked down at Blossom and pulled a sympathetic face at her. Blossom gave her a flat stare back. It was happening already. She didn't want people to treat her differently. Kelly was giving her that look, the pitying one, and she didn't even know the full story yet.

"Come in dear." Kelly said in a quiet voice. Blossom didn't reply, she just stepped inside and headed for the Professor's lab, and Brick followed her.

When they'd reached the bottom of the stairs, the Professor was sat at his desk, tinkering away. Blossom noticed today's newspaper discarded on the counter. He'd read it. But then she knew he would have done, he always got the Townsville Tribunal. He'd read it everyday for as long as she could remember.

"Professor?" Blossom said gently, and he didn't reply, his hearing wasn't what it used to be being in his early seventies now. "Professor?"

He jumped slightly, looking around and smiling when he saw Blossom and her partner stood there. "Blossom, Brick, how lovely to see you both. Are two of my wonderful grandchildren here too?"

"Actually no, they're at Bubbles' house... I thought it would be best to come see you without them today." Blossom muttered a little awkwardly.

The Professor's smile faltered slightly as he gazed at the newspaper on his desk briefly. "Ahh, yes. Come, take a seat."

He guided them over to his recliner they had moved in there for him a few years back, Brick and Blossom pulled up a couple of wheelie chairs and sat opposite him.

After a short pause, Blossom spoke. "It wasn't true, what you read in the paper."

Brick nudged her foot. That wasn't necessarily true.

"Oh, don't worry Blossom, I've read enough cock and bull stories about you girls over the years to know what's true and what's false." The Professor brushed it off; but his eyes, they were still concerned. "Remember the field day they had when you all started dating the boys? And when they found out about Butch being Jay's father. They'll pick at anything they can. Or just plain make things up."

"Hmm, they are a pest." Blossom murmured. Brick gave her an encouraging look. She looked back at him doubtfully, and he stood up.

"I better get back, get the kids home. You two should talk. Blossom, I'll see you back at home." Brick said, nodding at the Professor, before turning and leaving.

Blossom was a little surprised he left, maybe he figured she would tell him if it were just the two of them. He was kind of right. Except, she didn't mind him being there. He was obviously pissed off by the headline. She thought what she said to Bubbles was maybe bothering him too.

"Is it partly true, Blossom? I mean, did it really happen?" The Professor asked, his voice strained, his expression distressed.

Blossom stiffened, not knowing precisely how to answer him, or whether she was going to continue to shield him from the truth or not.

"I know you girls can more than look after yourselves, but it doesn't mean I don't worry. You're still young women and you're still vulnerable. Those types of men have their ways and means, and I know you've been through a tough time, on and off for awhile now." The Professor said, looking at her searchingly.

Blossom hesitated, still unsure of what to say.

"Blossom, you don't need to protect me." He said softly, and Blossom wilted. What was the use, he looked like he already knew anyway. He was her father, he had read the news and something had just clicked, it had scared him. And now, her arrival to talk about it, it confirmed it for him.

"It was almost 7 years ago." Blossom said, her voice uneasy. "I was invited out for the Christmas do with work colleagues. It was late January by the time we managed to go. I didn't even realise it had been planned though, I didn't intend to go. But, my colleagues persuaded me. I bumped into someone there and he put Rohypnol in my drink without me realising."

The Professor looked positively heart broken as she confirmed his anxieties. This was what she had wanted to avoid. She couldn't bear to see him so hurt.

"Oh Blossom." He breathed sadly. "Who, who -"

"Jeremy Paxton. Bubbles' old colleague." She answered him.

"Oh god." The Professor exclaimed, remembering them all trying to push him on her, to try and fix her loneliness after Brick broke her heart. "7 years ago? Blake just turned 6, don't tell me you were..." He couldn't say it, it was too much.

"I was 13 weeks pregnant with Blake, I found out the day after it happened. Luckily the drug didn't affect him." She confirmed.

"Oh Blossom. You should have told me." The Professor gasped.

"I didn't want to worry you. How do you tell your father you've been raped? It's fine, it's all over. It's done now. As you can imagine, Brick and his brothers dealt with him in their own way. They made him leave town. Up until recently, it seems..." Blossom mumbled.

"The perks of having ex villain son in laws, I suppose." He said, probably the first time he wasn't disapproving of their fierce nature. "The police?"

"I told them but, there wasn't enough evidence, the case was closed." Blossom explained, and the Professor looked outraged.

"That's appalling. He's still out there, he could be doing it to other women, other people's daughters!" He cried.

"I know, and that's awful, but there's not a lot I can do. It's over. I have to think about now, you know?"

His anger dissipated, and he frowned sadly. "Oh Blossom, my poor sweet Blossom, come here." He opened his arms to his daughter, and Blossom fell into them. She hadn't realised how reassuring a hug from her father would feel now he knew. It was so relieving to be comforted by him, that she felt some tears fall from her eyes, a small sob escaping her lips.

"Sweetheart, are you putting on a brave face?" He asked.

"A little bit. I get the odd flashback, and I usually know how to deal with them. I mean, I'm fine, you know, I am." She said, pulling away from the hug to wipe her eyes. "I'm fine. It's just, I don't know what to do with myself sometimes. I just don't know. Neither does Brick. I'm fine, for ages, and everything's okay, and then something happens, and…" She hesitated again. She should tell him. She should tell him that Jeremy is at the hospital, and that he's been causing her further misery, and that she could feel herself turning into that hollow woman again. "Urgh... It's exhausting."

The Professor smiled at her sympathetically. She noted the crinkles surrounding his eyes and smile. How silver his hair was. She couldn't do it. He didn't deserve the stress. "Come up to the kitchen dear, I'll fix you a cup of tea."

Blossom forced a smile on her face. "That sounds lovely."


Buttercup sat down in the employee lounge with a huff. She was in a foul mood. And if she saw one more Townsville Tribunal she was going to roll it up and stick it up the nearest person's ass.

She'd seen the article, and boy had it made her mad. It was bullshit, each line of text was fabricated fuckery. She'd called Blossom immediately, and although she tried to brush it off a bit, Buttercup could hear how upset she was about it. And who could blame her, it had painted her as a person no one wanted to be.

She had called Blossom to check she was okay, called Butch to rant and rave, gone on her lunch early to cool down, but been so wound up still she'd stomped down the road and bought herself a burger. Because she was pissed, and fried food understands.

She took a large bite of her cheeseburger, and the sound of someone tutting loudly made her frown deeply.

"You are not eating a cheeseburger."

When she realised it was Lonnie a little growl escaped her lips. Now was the wrong time buddy. She glanced around, and he was leant on the kitchen side, smirking.

"I am eating a cheeseburger. Alone. And I'd like to keep it that way." She snapped, taking another bite.

"Didn't fancy hamster food from the cafe today?" He asked, sitting on the sofa opposite her.

"No, my mood called for fast food. Call me out on it again and my mood will call for stamping on testicles." Buttercup warned angrily. She did not need any crap from him right now.

But he only laughed - he never seemed to take any of her threats seriously and it was really irritating. Most of the time people knew she wasn't kidding around when she said things like that. Not Lonnie.

"I bet you could eat a few of those burgers and still keep that figure of yours jaw-droppingly trim." He said, a leery look on his face.

Buttercup stared at him angrily. "Shut. The hell. Up."

"Hey, I'm a gym trainer, a looked-after physique impresses me, it's my line of work. Doesn't it impress you?" Lonnie asked, standing and stretching himself out, trying to inadvertently display his muscles.

She cocked her brow at him. In comparison to Butch, Lonnie was a mildly muscley, small dormouse. He was attractive in an obvious, pretty boy kind of way, and a lot of the other employees and gym goers batted there lashes at him, but Buttercup didn't - she didn't need to, she had Butch.

"Not really." She answered honestly, going back to her burger, which did impress her. Lonnie for once looked a little put out, but it didn't last long.

"Your metabolism must be as fast as the heads that turn when you walk by in this place." He commented, winking at her. Buttercup gave him a disgusted look. Was this guy for real?

"Why don't you save these amazing lines for a woman who gives a damn? I am not a woman who gives a damn." She told him clearly.

"The other girls who work here are basic. Basic, run of the mill gym bunnies. There's something different about you." Lonnie said, trying to sound sincere.

"Maybe it's the ability to break your arm with a sneeze?" She guessed, taking another large bite of her burger.

He laughed again. "Probably yeah, I like 'em feisty."

Buttercup gave him an unamused glare. "Look will you just cut it out? I have a boyfriend, and four kids, I'm happy. And I'm not looking to fool around with anyone, okay? I mean it, that's enough."

"So you say." He replied, grabbing an apple off the coffee table in the middle of the room.

Her brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Four kids? Massive boyfriend? I'll believe it when I see it." Lonnie said, taking a bite out of his apple and leaning back on the sofa.

Buttercup glared at him furiously. "You think I'm lying?!"

"You sure don't look like you've spat four kids out." He said, like he was in on the joke.

"Tell me, what does a woman with four children look like then?!" She enquired, her voice acidic.

"Not you." He scoffed, not realising he was just riling the beast.

Buttercup grabbed her wallet angrily, sliding a couple of photos out of the photo pocket. "Well here's your proof. Four kids. A son and then triplets. Psychotic boyfriend. Who used to work here, so you should fucking recognise Butch Jojo when you see him. Now get off of my case."

Lonnie looked at the photos briefly and shrugged. "I'm still not 100 percent bought on it. They could be nieces and nephews. And a brother."

She growled frustratedly. "A brother?! Are you fucking kidding me?!"


The next day, Blossom was back at work. She had argued with herself about pulling a sickie, but that would just make her look guilty of what Jeremy had accused her of doing, and she wasn't a liar.

So she'd gone back into work and held her head high. It was really deflating, the constant eyeballing and whispering.

But Tess had really pulled through for her, she'd spent the majority of the day by Blossom's side, giving gossiping nurses and interns the evil eye and Blossom words of encouragement.

"Just keep strong and ignore it. You've done nothing wrong. That guy oughta be ashamed of himself, and so should anyone that believes that article. They should know better than to think so poorly of you." Tess said, her face hard as they strode side by side down the corridors of Townsville General.

"Thanks Tess. You have no idea how much I appreciate the support." Blossom said, touched. She was glad she had confided in her now.

"Don't mention it, it's all true. If anything, I think this whole thing will end up being a blessing in disguise." Tess replied, and Blossom arched a brow at her.

"How on earth will that end up happening?" Blossom questioned skeptically.

"In the end it'll expose him for what he really is. That's what I'm hoping anyway. I've got my fingers crossed. Listen, I'll meet you for lunch okay? Keep going. You're doing great." Tess said encouragingly.

"Okay, thanks Tess." Blossom said before swallowing deeply and looking down at the chart in her arms. Hayley Paxton. She needed her vitals checking. She could have asked an intern to do it, but she was beginning to feel bad about avoiding Hayley so much. All of this was as much her fault as it was her own.

With a shaky exhale, she made her way inside her room.

"Hello Hayley, how are you feeling?" Blossom said, looking down at her chart as she walked inside.

"Erm, I've been better." She replied croakily.

When Blossom looked up, she could see she'd been crying.

"Oh Hayley, what's wrong?" Blossom asked, immediately joining her bedside.

"It's nothing, I'm just emotional, I guess." Hayley sniffed. But Blossom could see she was lying.

"I understand, it must be hard just sitting around waiting." Blossom said gently.

"It's not that, I'm used to that. I know how to deal with that." Hayley said, wiping at her eyes. "I don't know how to deal with this." Her voice cracked as she tried not to burst into tears.

"I see." Blossom said, stroking her back and wondering if she knew. "Well Hayley, whatever is worrying you, try not to think about it. You have enough on your plate as it is, you need to stay positive and try to combat any added stress."

Hayley looked up at her for a few seconds, studying her face. Blossom looked away.

"I read that story, in the newspaper." She murmured quietly.

Blossom looked around at her, looking alarmed. She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything.

"I didn't believe a word of it. There's no way you would accuse someone of that falsely. Or concoct that sort of story. I think the Townsville Tribunal has gone below the belt even publishing it." Blossom looked down, trying to think of something, anything to say. "I think there was some truth in it though."

Blossom looked at her now, looking even more anxious than she had done. "I really don't think we should discuss this."

"It actually happened, didn't it?" Hayley questioned in a small, wary voice.

The air in the room disappeared as Blossom blinked. Her mouth went dry, and she stammered, not knowing how to answer her.

"Oh god. It - it was my brother, wasn't it?" Hayley asked, her voice filled with the same anguish the Professor's had before when she'd told him. Except, there was shame in Hayley's voice.

Blossom gave her a wide eyed look. How had she guessed? Hayley didn't seem to need an answer, she put her head in her hands in shock, but she wasn't crying. "Oh my god. I knew it. God! It was him, wasn't it?"

Just as Blossom urged herself to say something to the woman, the door to her room opened, and Blossom felt the air go cold as Jeremy greeted his sister.

"Hey, how are you doing Hayls?" He asked casually. "You look upset."

Hayley gave her brother a stare that was far from welcoming. Blossom picked up Hayley's chart, nearly dropping it in her haste, and excused herself.

Jeremy watched her go, then turned to his sister. "She's a very fidgety doctor, isn't she?" He commented.

Hayley continued to stare at her brother unpleasantly. "Well, she's under a lot of stress, don't you think?" She muttered flatly.

"I guess so." Jeremy answered with a shrug.

"Jeremy, I'm not feeling so good. Come back another time, I think I'm going to take a nap." Hayley said, sitting down a little more in her bed.

"Oh, okay then. I'll swing by tomorrow." He frowned.

"Goodbye." She said bluntly.


"Something isn't right with this picture."

Butch and Brick looked up at Boomer as he spoke. He was pointing across the park, and they both looked in that direction.

Blake was sitting in the sand pit with his sister and cousins, cross legged with his chin resting in his hands, looking bored.

"No book." Boomer said, his voice almost shocked.

"What's up with your boy?" Butch asked, and Brick sighed, leaning back in the bench they were all sitting on and looked up at the sky.

"He read the headline in the paper." Brick said in a somber tone.

"Oh." Boomer said, looking back at his nephew, brow furrowed.

"He won't know what rape is. He's 6." Butch said, almost sounding like he was trying to convince himself of that fact. The kid was insanely smart for his age. And Brick had never lied to him when he'd asked about things that were perhaps bordering on inappropriate for a child of his age to understand. Blossom had even had to tell Brick to maybe sugar coat things every now and then. So Brick had no idea if what Butch said was true. Although they had obviously never discussed that topic.

"He's not stupid though." Brick said darkly. "He's capable of looking up the definition of things. He's done so in the past."

"Yeah, he is incredibly smart." Boomer murmured.

"Urgh," Brick said, leaning forward and resting his elbow on his knee, his chin in his hand. "God knows how to even begin to handle that one."

"Things'll get easier man." Boomer said, and Brick scoffed lightly.

"It sure doesn't feel that way at the moment." He muttered back. Rosalie and Bridget were twirling around so fast, the triplets were getting dizzy watching them. Blake was too engrossed in staring at his feet to pay attention. "Do you think it was him? It had to be, didn't it?"

"Who?" Boomer asked, confused.

"Him - Jeremy. Do you think he's back, and went to the papers?" Brick said, his voice getting a rough edge to it as he said his name.

"You think he would be that stupid? To come back to Townsville, let alone go play the wrongly accused man to the press?" Butch asked as he recounted his kids. Yep, still three of them.

"I dunno. Dude has a death wish if he's back. I don't think I could control myself if I ever saw him again." Brick said savagely.

"Man, if someone did that to Buttercup? I'd be doing hard time right now." Butch agreed. "Whether we were dating at the time or not."

"I know what you mean, but it's a whole different ball game when you have kids though. Not really worth putting them through that, is it?" Boomer pointed out.

"I guess so." Brick said, but that didn't mean he didn't want to ring the bastards neck still. "If he's here, it would explain a lot."

"What do you mean?" Butch asked.

"It'd explain Blossom's behaviour lately. She's in the middle of a downward spiral at the minute. She hasn't been this bad in a long time. She needs to see a shrink but she has too much pride." Brick said, exasperated.

"Hang in there bro, things'll look up soon. They always do." Butch said.

"You just gotta keep showing her you're there for her. It's all you can do. She won't listen to you about going for some therapy anyways." Boomer added, and Brick looked his way.

"How'd you know that?" Brick questioned.

"Because, you don't know what's she's been through, so why should she listen to you? She's only gunna listen to someone who's been there." Boomer said simply, like it was obvious.

Brick blinked, digesting what he'd said. "But I don't know anyone who's been through it too. Neither does Blossom, as far as I know."

Boomer shrugged; this was as far as his knowledge spread.

There was a short period of silence as Brick processed what Boomer had said, broken only by Butch shouting at his brood.

"Olive! Ivy! Put that little boy down! He doesn't wanna play! Not everyone likes to play like you guys play! Olive! Don't make me come over there!" Butch hollered, standing to get two of his daughters' attention. Looking across the park, he noticed the boy's appalled looking mother. "Sorry bout that ma'am! My girls only feed on the weak!"

She glared at him, marching across the playground and snatching her son's hand up. Butch sat down obliviously, smiling lovingly at his girls.

"Oh are you fucking kidding me, where's Rosalie?!" Brick said, jumping into the air.

"Sit down, Emerald's burying her in the sand." Butch replied, yanking his brother back onto the bench as he rolled his eyes.

"Rosie, pack it in!" He hollered, but was ignored.

Boomer sighed loudly, looking to the heavens.

"What are you sighing about? Bridget and Bonnie are actually behaving." Brick said as he sat back down.

"Bubbles is pregnant." Boomer said, and his brothers clicked their heads in his direction.

"Hey, congrats man." Butch said, clapping his blonde brother on the back.

"Congratulations." Brick agreed.

"Thanks." Boomer mumbled, half smiling.

"You're not pleased?" Butch questioned, and Boomer nodded.

"No, I am. I'm just worried I haven't got a third in me." Boomer shrugged.

"Boomer, man, if I can handle 4, 3 in one go, you can handle one more." Butch assured him.

"I guess so."

"Imagine me, 5, 6 years ago, did you picture me like this?" Butch asked, pointing at his three baby girls.

"Nope. Not in the slightest." Boomer answered him honestly.

"Right, if I can, you can." Butch said, no room for second guessing.

"Vasectomies all round once your next one is here?" Brick proposed.

"Oh hell yes." Boomer cried.

"High five to that." Butch said, holding his hands up for his brothers to slap.


A couple of days later, and things had only died down slightly for Blossom. The majority of her colleagues had gotten over the hype of the story in the paper; thanks to Tess and her husband Tom, she was guessing mostly, so that had made a lot of things easier for her.

She came across the odd patient, or even patients' relative who had clearly lapped up every word of the article and gave her disgusted or curious looks as she walked by, whispering under their breaths, but as difficult as it was, Blossom could ignore it.

What she was struggling to ignore was Jeremy's looming presence in the hospital; he still came in daily despite Hayley's reluctance to see him. He seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Hayley had somehow caught on; and Blossom had refused to talk about it any of the times Hayley had tried to bring it up, much to her frustration.

She didn't know what Jeremy would do, or how he would react if he knew Hayley knew the truth. It appeared that Hayley hadn't mentioned anything to him so far, that or he just didn't care.

Blossom didn't want to find out how he would react, she didn't want to talk to him or interact with him at all. So not only was she avoiding talking to Hayley; she was doing her best to avoid Jeremy loping down the halls, smiling at her in a satisfied way, and passing by her a little too closely.

The most aggravating thing about it was how sly he was acting. The majority of the nursing staff thought he was a really nice guy. He stopped and started conversations with them all when she was there, and spoke to Blossom so sweetly around them - she felt like pulling her hair out in frustration. They had no idea, and it made complaining about him seem almost impossible. Like anyone would believe her?

Why would you want Hayley's brother barred from visiting? He seemed so genuine and nice - and had done nothing inappropriate in front of any other staff members. If anything, complaining would likely make that article about her look more accurate. It felt like there wasn't anything she could do about his presence on the ward.

And what was worse, Blossom was beginning to think she was being followed around the hospital by a woman. Ever since the story had been published, every way Blossom turned, she was there, hanging around, trying to look like she wasn't following her.

She was tall, taller than Blossom, with wavy, warm mahogany hair, smokey eye make up and a green parka coat she tucked herself away into. It was day 3 of Blossom noticing her hanging around, and she was beginning to lose her patience with it all now.

She pounded the corridors of the hospital, and stopped abruptly, turning to face the woman sharply. She hadn't anticipated Blossom's halt, and nearly walked straight into her.

She was younger than Blossom was, but she didn't look nervous, just like she'd been caught.

"Can I help you?" Blossom said, her voice struggling to stay polite. "Are you lost, or something?"

"No." She answered bluntly, and Blossom folded her arms across her chest.

"Then what's the problem? I have noticed you following me around the past 3 days." Blossom said, her voice bordering on impolite now.

"I read the Townsville Tribunal, the other day." She said shortly. Blossom cocked her head to the side, her expression unamused.

"Let me guess, you're annoyed with me? Come to yell at the liar? Tell me what a rotten person I am? Maybe you're just curious to see if it's true - or are you press? I am so close to losing it now with all this. Paparazzi I expected, but being followed around at work?! This is a hospital! People die here!" Blossom began to rant.

"No! No, I'm not press!" She cried hastily.

"Then what?! Why are you following me?!" Blossom exclaimed.

"I know what really happened! I know Jeremy Paxton raped you!" She blurted out quickly. Blossom stared at her, stunned.

"What? How? I mean, how? Who are you?" Blossom asked slowly, baffled by her admission.

The young woman answered Blossom's last question. "My name is Sasha, Sasha Wood. I, I read the article in the paper, and I just knew it was Jeremy by the things that were said. It just really seemed like it was him behind it. Like, mentioning that he works in the arts and stuff. Skipping town... Plus, I know from my cousin that something happened between you and him years ago."

"What do you mean? Who is your cousin?" Blossom said, her head hurting as she pieced this all together.

"Michelle Wood is my cousin, she worked with Jeremy and your sister Bubbles at Marshalls Dance Company. She still does. She was at the party at Bubbles' house - where your boyfriend caved Jeremy's head in, then Jeremy fell off the planet. It was just gossip when she told me, I didn't think much more of it, but that was before... It was only when reading the article I realised that that was something more." Sasha explained confidently.

Blossom furrowed her brow as she tried to make sense of what the woman was saying. "I, right so, what does that have to do with - how do you know what you think you know?" She stammered confusedly.

"I know what I know to be true, because he did it to me too." She mumbled, her confident exterior crumbling slightly, expression saddened, but also almost pleading with Blossom to believe her.

Blossom froze, totally bowled over by what she'd said. "Really?" She questioned, her voice sounding strangled. Sasha nodded. "Oh god."

When Blossom managed to tear her eyes away from Sasha, she looked down at her watch. It was almost 4pm. All her patients were stable, and the interns were on it as it was. "Come, let's, let's go get a cup of coffee. I can spare 15 minutes." Blossom said, and Sasha nodded, following her.


"Okay," Blossom said, exhaling. "Just start from the beginning. All of it, from the top."

"Okay," Sasha said, thinking back as she clutched at her coffee. "Well I first met Jeremy when I was 22. Michelle threw a house party and invited me along, all her work friends were there as well, I think it was actually a wrap party after a production, but Michelle ended up hosting. This was 3 years ago now, and Jeremy turned up at this party. He'd been invited but no one expected him to actually show as he left town. Nobody had seen him in ages. They didn't know why and he didn't want to talk about why, all he said was that there was bad blood here now. He wouldn't elaborate any further. Michelle and some of the others told me on the hush hush about him getting beaten up by a Rowdyruff at one of Bubbles' party's, so we all kind of guessed it had something to do with that. Anyway, the party was starting to fizzle and a bunch of us wanted to go out and carry it on. Only a few of us went on to a club, Jeremy and myself included, and you can guess the rest cos it's probably the same thing that happened to you."

"He put something in your drink? At Temptress, downtown?" Blossom asked quietly, and Sasha nodded.

"Same nightclub and everything. I woke up in someone from the party's bed, and I just felt like hell. I knew something had happened. It was one of the other dancer's apartment. He was in the kitchen making pancakes, he said I had a funny turn, and the dancer had offered him her keys to take me home. Said he was really worried about me. I sat with him, and ate the breakfast he'd made, totally numb. He was so convincing, his story about taking me to the closest person's home and letting me sleep it off in a spare room while he slept on the sofa. I almost believed it myself, until I saw the used condoms in the bin." Sasha said, her voice a hollow whisper Blossom recognised.

"That's what he does. He has a whole skit, it seems." Blossom replied dryly.

"He did the exact same to you?" Sasha said, mildly surprised.

"Almost, scratch the breakfast and the apartment. He used to have a place near Temptress. That's where he took me. I came to before he got home from buying breakfast food from the grocery store. I too saw the - the condoms and got out of there as quick as I could. I went straight to the police, but nothing came of it." Blossom said, startling herself at how easy it was to tell this perfect stranger what had happened to her, something she hadn't even told her own father for almost 7 years.

"I didn't have the guts back then, to go to the cops. I didn't tell anyone, not even Michelle." Sasha said, almost kicking herself.

"You were only 22. I don't know if I'd have had the guts to at that age either. It was just an immediate reaction for me, I kind of regretted it to be honest. I just want to forget about it." Blossom murmured. Sasha was looking at the cover on her coffee cup intently as Blossom looked at her searchingly.

"So how exactly did you guess what happened to me, with Jeremy?" Blossom questioned.

"That's just it. I guessed. I just had a feeling. I read the article and I just knew it was him. Maybe it's because he did it to me, maybe it was a lucky guess cos I just assumed it would be him, I dunno. I decided to come find you, and then I saw him here. And then I saw you both together, and just, every now and then you'd pull a face when he'd try and include you in conversations with other staff here or whatever. I knew it then, it confirmed it for me." Sasha said, her eyes looking a little less brave as she mentioned Jeremy being around.

"His sister is here, she's a patient of mine." Blossom loosely explained.

"That fucking sucks." Sasha muttered. Blossom nodded, ignoring the language.

"If you didn't tell anyone about what happened, how come you've tracked me down and just told me?" Blossom asked her, and Sasha looked serious, glancing around slightly before answering.

"He raped you 6, almost 7 years ago right?" She asked bluntly.

Blossom looked around sharply, flustered and hoping no one heard. "Can you keep your voice down… Yes, why?"

"He raped me 3 years ago. Which means he did it to me after he did it to you. How many other women do you think have fallen victim to him?" Sasha hissed.

"I don't know, and to think about it just makes me feel nauseous." Blossom answered honestly.

"Right, and it's not right, is it?" Sasha added.

"Of course it isn't right. But there isn't a lot I can do about it. I reported it, I gave what evidence I could give immediately, it didn't go to trial because of lack of evidence and he was free to go. My word against his. The end. It's unjust, but - it's life." Blossom said hardly.

"That's not how life should be." Sasha snapped. Blossom's lips formed a thin line but she didn't respond. "I didn't report it, and now I'm going to. When I read your article I checked, too much time hasn't passed. I can still report it. And I want to mention you." Sasha said, and Blossom looked at her with wide eyes.

"Me?" The pink puff reiterated.

"Yes. He might actually go down if there's two of us claiming he did it." Sasha said, her voice urgent.

But Blossom shook her head softly. "Sasha, if you're ready to go to the police and report him, that's great. And I wish you all the luck in the world that it goes how it should go. But, I no longer want any part of it. I don't want anything to do with any of it anymore, I just want to move on from it."

"He'll keep doing it Blossom." Sasha responded rapidly. Blossom winced, hiding her eyes with her hand. She knew Sasha was right.

"I have a name to protect, Sasha. I have family to protect. It's not as black and white as you're making it out to be." Blossom said quietly.

"He just dragged your name through shit in the papers! Everyone thinks you're a liar! Don't you want to save your name, and reputation?! You're a fucking ex superhero, you shouldn't have to bathe in that inaccurate bullshit!" Sasha cried, getting angry now.

"I have children to protect! It was bad enough having my name and the words 'accuses innocent man of rape' on every paper in town, but having my children seeing it? My father? That was worse! There wasn't enough evidence to prosecute him and that's the end of it, nothing I do can change that. It's his word against mine and it'll be the same for you." Blossom said, crossing her arms across her chest. There was no way she was having any part in this.

"It's not the end of it though, is it Blossom? I've seen him around the hospital. I've seen him slyly harassing you! How dare he! You should be so fucking angry for yourself! You should be outraged! You deserve fucking better and so do I!" She declared fiercely, banging her fist on the tabletop and slopping some of her coffee. Blossom didn't say anything, she just looked at the puddle of coffee, knowing Sasha was right, but feeling helpless to do anything about it. "You are lying to yourself Blossom Utonium. And it's bullshit!"

Blossom glared up at her, but it faltered, because she knew she was right, though she didn't want to admit it.

"I used to fucking look up to you man! You were all about justice, and truth and hope, and now? You're just letting him do that to you without a fight? BULL. SHIT." Sasha snarled.

"Will you calm down? Or you'll have to leave, this is a hospital." Blossom warned her evenly.

Sasha drummed her fingers on the tabletop loudly as she tried to calm herself down a bit. This was not going as she had hoped it would. She was hoping they could team up and beat this guy. She wasn't expecting the former Powerpuff girl leader to be such a wet blanket about it.

"You say you have children?" Sasha asked suddenly, and Blossom's back straightened at the mention of Blake and Rosalie.

"Yes." She said guardedly, still glaring at Sasha.

"Do you have a daughter?" Sasha questioned, and Blossom's expression fiercened.

"Why?" She bit out.

"That's a yes." Sasha smirked. "How old?"

"She's 3."

"Imagine, when she's older, she comes home from a party, sick and disoriented, and suspiciously sore between her legs…" Sasha said, giving her an evil look, trying to bait her. It worked.

"Stop that!" Blossom growled protectively.

"It could happen. And it could be him, 20 years from now."

"Stop it. Stop it now!" Blossom snarled. Sasha did as she was told. "This is ridiculous. I don't need this. It's bad enough I feel I can't turn a corner in case he's there, manipulating me, but now it's you too, trying to make me feel like a terrible person for wanting to forget about it all and just move on with my life. Just leave me alone, or I'll be forced to report you and get you kicked out of here."

"Funny how you'll do that to me in a second but tell me, how long has Jeremy been roaming these halls and you haven't reported him?" Sasha queried, and Blossom just looked madder. She didn't like being proved wrong. "Because he has that power, doesn't he? He still ignites the fear. Trust me I know, I feel the same way too every time I've spotted him here, and I've only been hanging around for 3 days. This massive hood on this coat is because of him. He will always fucking hold that over us, unless we fight back."

"I don't want anything to do with him -" Blossom began but Sasha interrupted her.

"How many more things are we going to let him take from us? Our dignity, our sense of self, our security, the ability to be in a relationship with someone, a proper, trusting, fulfilling one?! He's taken all of that from me! Has he taken that from you?" Sasha asked, and Blossom hesitated. "You're hesitating."

"No, not, not all of that." Blossom said, Sasha's words getting to her; but she didn't want them to.

"So you and your husband, you're all good then?" Sasha questioned, and Blossom swallowed hard.

"He's not my husband. He's my boyfriend. My long term partner." She answered.

"Ah. I see." She smirked slightly.

"What has my relationship got to do with any of this?!" Blossom snapped.

"Do you trust him?" Sasha asked delicately.

"Yes!" Blossom answered instantly, almost offended at the suggestion. "Of course I trust him I love him!"

"Can you trust him? Has Jeremy left you with the ability to?" There was a pause as Blossom processed the question. All these things Sasha was saying, it was almost like it was awakening something in her brain. And she didn't like it. "He's a man. One of those ruffs, right? The red one. A former baddie. With superpowers. He could overpower you easily. He's the only one who could. How can you, as a rape victim, trust him to -"

"Now that is enough! Brick would never! And to even suggest - and another thing, I am not a victim, I am a survivor. And so are you. It's something that happened to us, not something we are." Blossom bit back angrily.

"Exactly!" Sasha smiled. "Soz about the tough love. It was the simplest way to get through to you, bring out that fiery redheaded-ness. Look, I'm going to report him, it's taken me 3 years to get the courage to and I am going to do it, and I'm going to mention you, and the article. It's up to the police if they want to contact you."

Blossom smiled slightly. "Fine. Mention me. I wish you luck."

"Feels like I'm gunna need it." She muttered.

"Listen, next time, if you want to talk to me, you don't need to stalk me for 3 days." Blossom added with a smile.

"Duly noted." Sasha said quietly, smiling back.


Blossom was slapped with reality the moment she touched down in front of her house that evening. Dozens of paparazzi jumped out of nowhere, shoving cameras and flashing lights at her as she made her way up the garden path. Fortunately for Blossom, or maybe unfortunately, depending on how you looked at it, she had been bombarded with paparazzi before, so she knew to put her head down, walk inside and say nothing.

"Miss Utonium, do you have anything to say about the recent allegations made against you in the press?"

"Blossom the Daily Star would like to offer you the chance to give your stance exclusively?"

"Miss Utonium, you've been exceptionally quiet since the story broke. Why is that?"

When Blossom opened the front door to the house, she was greeted by Brick's furious expression. He gave the pap's a wrath filled scowl.

"Are you vultures for fucking real?!" He boomed as Blossom slipped inside to let him deal with them. "You fuckers are scaring my daughter. And if she's scared that automatically means I'm homicidal. Do I need to demonstrate just how homicidal I'm feeling?"

The camera- wielders scrambled, disappearing as quickly as if they too had superpowers. He slammed the door loudly, cursing under his breath as Rosalie peeked her head round the living room door.

"Are they gone?" She asked timidly and Brick nodded. "I'm glad you're so scary."

Brick gave her a slanted smile.

"I hate the paparazzi." Blake said huffily.

"Me too. Where's your Mom gone?" Brick asked.

"Upstairs to change." Blake said, as he and his sister returned to the living room. A few moments later, Blossom appeared in comfy pyjamas, looking sullen.

"Hey." Brick said, looking at her like she may crack any second.

"Hey." She replied in a wilted voice.

"How did today go?"

"Fine. I don't want to talk about it. I'm home with you three now, and that's what counts." Blossom said, and Brick nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Fair enough." Brick said, wanting her to elaborate, but not pushing it. Brick had been on tenterhooks around her lately. Blossom was very aware of that fact, but she'd done nothing to change it. The things Sasha had said that day had made her hyper aware of it too.

It bothered her that she was doing so little to make things normal between her and Brick. She knew it was because of Jeremy too, and that just made it all worse.

"I'm gunna make some tea, would you like some?" Blossom asked, and Brick nodded.

"Sure."


Half an hour later, Blossom was curled up on the sofa with Blake on one side and Rosalie on the other, a film they had picked to watch on the TV and the remaining pieces of pizza they had saved for her on a plate balancing on the arm of the chair. Brick was on Rosalie's other side, and she was slowly drifting off to sleep against his chest.

It was moments like these where Blossom wished she were a stay at home mother still very intensely. Especially when work was as fun as it was at the moment…

She looked around at Brick, who kissed the top of Rosalie's head, then looked up at Blossom, smiling, he hadn't realised he was being watched.

"I'll take her to bed, it's past her bedtime anyway. And yours." He added to Blake, who didn't respond, wondering how much longer he could get away with not going to bed.

When Brick and Rosie left the room, Blake snuggled up to Blossom, and Blossom put her arms around him tightly.

"We miss you being at home you know. Dad does his best, and we have fun and stuff but, it's not the same." He mumbled into her chest.

Blossom smiled sentimentally. "I know, I miss being at home too."

"But, it's good that you're a doctor. And that you help people. We did about doctors today at school, and even though I know all about it all already, I thought it was really cool that my Mom does what doctors do." Blake explained, and Blossom squeezed him harder.

"Well thanks Blake. I miss being at home, but I do love being a doctor. You, Rosalie and your Daddy are my favourite people to look after though." She said, kissing his red messy hair, then patting it down.

"Yeah, well we're all here to look after you too." He said, turning to look at her now, his face serious and full of concern. "Even though you're a doctor, you have to let people look after you, okay?"

Blossom's face fell slightly and she nodded slowly, stroking his head softly.

Blake didn't fully understand what he'd read, and by the way things had shifted slightly at home, and the reams of paps hanging around the house hounding them, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He just wanted his Mommy to be okay.

"Okay, I will." Blossom mumbled, giving her son a tight squeeze again. "Love you, Blake."

"Love you too Mommy." He mumbled back.

"Shall we take you up to bed?" Blossom said, peering down at him. He looked bummed out.

"I guess so." He replied.


r&r (: