Thanks so much for reading and reviewing - it means a lot! Just wanted to leave a quick note to say that if the court scenes in this chapter are extremely unrealistic I can only apologise! I have done my best to make it as accurate as possible, but my knowledge is pretty basic, I've researched what I could to try and make it seem authentic - hopefully it's passable in the least!

Also want to mention if you're reading and become confused about one of BC & Butch's triplets' name and feel like there's been a name change - thats because there has been! I changed Eden to Ivy - honestly I didn't like Eden to begin with, I didn't really feel like it flowed with the other names very well, but I was just having a brain fart trying to think of something that made me think of green that went with Emerald and Olive - Ivy fits perfectly in my opinion and I wish I'd thought of it before I began to post this fic. So yeah, Eden is now Ivy, apologies for any confusion! Enjoy!


Is it all truly broken?/Irreparable mistakes?


"So, how are you holding up?" Sasha asked, one hand dug into her coat pocket, the other nursing a cigarette tucked between her fingers.

"Okay, I suppose. It's all really hard. I started some counselling though. That's helping more than I thought it would." Blossom answered, her hands deep in her coat pockets too.

"I told you it would." Sasha responded before taking a drag. "Is your therapist nice?"

"Yeah, she's okay... It's all really drawn out, all this, isn't it?" Blossom said, and Sasha nodded slowly.

"I know, how long does it take to see he's guilty and throw him in the slammer? And how could they grant him bail again?! It's a joke." Sasha complained.

Blossom's face crinkled slightly with concern at the thought of him still being out there. Fortunately they had put a no contact restraining order on him, he wasn't allowed within 10 feet of her or Sasha, else he would be sent inside till the trial.

"And we haven't even started the trial yet." Sasha said, and Blossom groaned.

"I'm dreading it for so many reasons. It'll be the first time Brick has seen Jeremy in years. I'm worried they'll end up hauling him away for murder. It would be easier to just stay out of the room, I can't stand the scrutiny. And I just don't want the stress. But, I know it can't be that simple. And I want to see how it goes down. Both my sisters are coming. And Brick's brothers; my Dad is watching the kids." Blossom explained.

"Not exactly the day out without the kids you conjured up in your mind's eye, hmm?" Sasha asked with a smirk, before taking a drag on her cigarette and blowing the smoke to the side.

"No. I'm glad my Dad's about though to watch them. They can have a fun time while we get it over with." Blossom murmured. "I just keep telling myself how amazing it is that it's even gone to trial. It didn't the first time."

"Mmm. Wanna smoke? It helps with the stress." Sasha said, offering her a cigarette. Blossom shook her head.

"No, and neither should you." She answered quickly.

Sasha didn't disagree, but she still took another toke. "I smoked my first cigarette when I got home from Jeremy's apartment you know, after it happened."

"Well, surely that's another reason to quit? Don't let him rot you from the inside through cigarettes. My sister used to smoke, I hated it." Blossom wrinkled her nose at the smell.

"Same. My roommate at the time offered me one and I just took it. Haven't stopped since." Sasha said with a shrug.

"Well you should." Blossom reached forward and took it from her fingers, throwing it to the ground and stamping on it.

"Sorry Ma…" She murmured with a sarcastic smile. "So have you been reading the papers?" Her hand lingered aimlessly, till she shoved it into her other pocket.

"I did, but I haven't for a couple of weeks. Too infuriating. Brick always burns them to pieces if he sees one in the house." Blossom said with a small smile.

"I know. I fucking wipe my ass with the Townsville Tribunal now; wonder how quickly they'll change their tune when this goes our way." Sasha said, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"You should really get to know my sister Buttercup, I think you'd get along quite well. She also reckons she has a pile of Tribunals in her bathroom." Blossom replied.

"You've mentioned that before. Oh, and Jeremy's Mom? Her interview was the best one. Some tirade about desperate women targeting her poor son. Deluded witch." Sasha said, her voice mock empathetic. Blossom smiled at her, but her smile soon disappeared when a familiar voice shouted at them in the distance.

"Look at you two, the best of friends."

It was Jeremy, stalking towards them, and he was angry. "My sick sister, my seriously ill sister has had the cops at her bedside all day, interviewing her because of you two! I know you've told her Blossom! You've poisoned her mind! She won't even talk to me! She won't listen! And now she won't even let me in her room! All because of you two fucking pathetic liars!" He yelled hotly.

Blossom and Sasha were like deer caught in headlights, frozen side by side in fear as he bellowed at them both.

"I could do it all again you know! And you wouldn't even see it coming. So you better stop messing with me! Stop fucking messing with me, or who knows how safe your morning coffee is!" He hissed savagely. Jeremy rummaged into the pocket inside his jacket, and brandished a pill pot of white pills. "Using these is the only way to get stuck up bitches like you two under the sheets, and if it's effective in shutting you both up too, then so be it! Women like you think you're better than everyone else - well you're not! I have absolutely no regrets for taking your useless, fucked up selves back to my place all those years ago, cos you both got what you deserved! You lead me on! You fucking deserved it!"

Blossom tore her eyes off of him to glance at Sasha, and she looked terrified. She'd paled considerably, and was standing stock still. He couldn't keep doing this. He thought he had power over them, and the longer they let him do this to them, the longer he'd continue to think he could do it. It had to stop, and that meant being brave. Braver then she'd already been. Jeremy couldn't hurt her. She could snap him in two like a twig. Why did she keep forgetting that?

"That is enough." Blossom bit out, her voice coming out strong and firm. Jeremy looked like he was holding back a scoff. She swallowed, and spoke again, her voice even. "You are breaking the terms of your bail. Get away from us. I'm calling the police." Her phone was in her hand. "I mean it Jeremy, you can threaten us all you like but you're not scary, you're just a selfish, sad little man, whose twisted and disturbed enough to think what he goes around doing is okay. I'm not kidding, get away from us, now - or you'll regret ever approaching us."

Jeremy sneered at them both, shaking his head, before stalking away. Sasha and Blossom both exhaled with relief.

"Are you okay?" Blossom asked, turning to face Sasha.

"Wow… You, you really told him." She answered breathlessly.

"Well, it's needed doing for a while now. He can't keep doing this. I'm going to call Detective Jenkins and tell her what's happened. He broke the restraining order, maybe they can haul him in…" Blossom noticed Sasha's eyes widen as she was talking. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, It's just, I got all that recorded. On my phone." Sasha said, retrieving her phone from her jacket pocket.

"What?!" Blossom exclaimed as Sasha stopped it recording.

"Well I have an app, that lets you record voice messages, you know, memos and stuff, and it's a widget on my home screen. I'm always accidentally recording stuff, it actually majorly pisses me off normally, but this time it really came in handy." Sasha explained.

"You accidentally recorded him threatening us?" Blossom asked, confused.

"No, I just, I had my phone in my hand in my pocket, so I just did it. I just fumbled with my phone hoping I pressed the record button, and I think it got it all, look:" Sasha pressed play, and Jeremy shouting at them could be heard clearly. Blossom's eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Oh my god. He - he practically confesses!" Blossom cried.

"I know. This, this could be it. This could be enough. What do we do with it?" Sasha asked, holding her phone like it was a priceless gem.

"We take it down to Jenkins! Like, right now. Come on!" Blossom cried, grabbing Sasha by her arm and soaring into the sky. Sasha gripped on for dear life.

"Blossom! I'm not accustomed to flying!" She yelped as they disappeared amongst the clouds.


Blossom slowly opened the door to her house, peeking inside with an almost guilty expression. It was late; she'd gotten out of work three and a half hours ago, and she'd not gotten the chance to contact Brick, she knew he was going to be worried, and most likely pissed off because he was worried.

He was in the kitchen, doing the washing up. She glanced at the dishwasher; it was full and on, he must have been washing the leftover dishes that didn't make it in.

"Hey." She mumbled, and he turned to look at her with a relieved look. "Have a good day?"

"Where the hell have you been?" He looked around at her briefly, then turned his back again to carry on soaping dishes. He was angry, but it was worried anger. She felt guilty. She should have made more of an effort to contact him. It hadn't been easy though, what with sorting everything out at the police department.

"I was down at the police department." Blossom murmured, going to the food cupboard and looking for something to eat. She'd totally skipped dinner; she was starving.

"Why?" Brick asked, putting the plate he'd been washing down now and turning to look at her.

Blossom settled for a granola bar. As she turned and pulled the wrapper off, she noticed tall candle holders on the draining board. And as she chucked the wrapper in the trashcan, she saw tons of used tea light candles and burned out tall candles in the bin. She felt a worse stab of guilt then. Had he prepared a romantic dinner for them? And she'd been three hours late home? God, she felt terrible. She almost didn't want to tell him now; though she wouldn't make that mistake again.

"Well, it was Jeremy. He approached Sasha and I outside the hospital. She'd popped by to see me just as I was finishing my shift." Blossom began to explain. Brick gave her an outraged look as he wiped his hands viciously on the hand towel.

"What? He did fucking what? What did he say? Why didn't you call me?!" He asked, automatically furious.

"Brick, it was okay, just listen! He threatened us -" Blossom tried to continue explaining but Brick interrupted her.

"For god's sake Blossom, do you have any idea how hard it is for me to just sit back and do nothing when he keeps coming after you? Do you know how useless I feel at the minute?" He asked bitterly, and Blossom frowned.

"Brick, wait I -"

"He just keeps taking it a step too far! And I'm expected to sit back and just, just let him?! I swear to fucking god Bloss, I'm gunna fucking kill him, I mean it!" He growled angrily.

"Just listen to me!" She cried.

"I'm gunna kill him, and it's gunna be so fucking easy -" Brick began, his features darkening with boiling anger until Blossom interrupted him.

"He threatened us, and I handled it! I stood up to him, I told him to back off. I just saw Sasha's face, and she looked so frightened and she's so young! And I just thought, why is this tiny little guy doing that to us? So I got rid of him. And what makes it even better is, Sasha recorded the entire exchange. On her phone with a voice recorder. That's why I took so long getting home, we took it straight down to the cops as new evidence, we basically got a confession from him!" Blossom cried, trying to make Brick see how good this was. But he was still mad.

"What did he say?" He demanded.

"Brick, did you hear what I said? That really isn't the part that matters!" Blossom exclaimed.

"Tell me!" He insisted.

"He had rohypnol, or some equivalent on him, he was rattling them about and trying to be intimidating; going on about how he has no regrets for what he did. But he basically admitted he did it and he shows absolutely no remorse for doing it… Brick?" Blossom stopped her explanation, concern evident in her face.

Brick was slowly going, the haze of anger was taking over, she could see the flames in his red eyes. Sensing the need for new kitchenware and some home repairs creeping up again if she didn't rein him back in, Blossom grabbed his face. "Brick, I stood up for myself. I know he's disgusting and vile and just the worst, but I did it. I stood up to him. And I was okay - I wasn't scared. And we've got indisputable evidence. Please celebrate with me." She kissed him, and he was a little rigid at first, but she felt him melt against her slowly as the anger faded.

"Are the kids in bed?" She questioned, arms still around his neck.

"Yeah…" Brick mumbled, almost dazed by her kiss.

"Let's go to bed too." She murmured, her voice extremely alluring. Brick suddenly couldn't remember what he was so angry about.


Bubbles cocked her head to the side as she examined her redheaded sister. She glanced at Brick sympathetically, who was standing beside the blonde puff.

"How's she been?" She asked quietly. Blossom was talking with her lawyer, Molly Carter, a couple of tables down. Brick, Bubbles, Boomer, Butch and Buttercup were sat nearby. They were at Townsville Courthouse, all in their Sunday best waiting in the lobby for the hearing to start.

"She's nervous. And well aware the defense lawyer is going to rip her story apart." Brick said, looking over at Blossom too.

"Yeah… I guess she's just gotta keep reminding herself that they're just doing their job, and not to take it personally. Not that that will make it any easier. You've been summoned to testify too, haven't you?" Bubbles responded, and Brick nodded.

"Yeah. I'm not nervous though." Brick said, a hard determination in his face. "I'm just gunna tell it exactly how it is."

"Just make sure you keep your cool Brick." Boomer reminded his hotheaded brother. "I know this is the first time you're gunna see Jeremy in a long time but, try to keep it together; for Blossom."

Brick didn't reply, he just continued to look ahead with a stony expression.


"Jeremy Paxton is a dangerous man. He is a dangerous predator who believes there is no wrong doing in his actions. Paxton preyed on Blossom Utonium, and at least 3 other women, by slipping rohypnol into her drink, taking her back to his apartment and raping her a maximum of two times. We have evidence that there was rohypnol in her bloodstream that night. He then left his apartment to buy groceries; Blossom Utonium awoke, dazed, confused and frightened; and upon realising what had happened, went straight to Townsville Police department. But it seems not even that is enough anymore. I repeat, Jeremy Paxton is a dangerous man. He has been accused of this offense 4 times that is known. Who knows how many more of his victims are out there? Jury, today you will see just how much of a hazard this man is to women, and society when you see exactly what he has put the victim through. Not only did he assault her, but he has continuously harassed and intimidated her. And during this intimidation, Jeremy Paxton confessed to his crimes. The facts are clear, and will enable you to convict Jeremy Paxton of the sexual assault of Blossom Utonium." Molly Carter, a fiery blonde in her early 40's, and the prosecuting lawyer, spoke to the 8 members of jury and the judge, eyed the defense lawyer frostily, before sitting back down at her desk opposite the judge's podium.

Jeremy's lawyer, Sonny Hudson, a tall, dark and handsome man in his early 30's stood then, greeting the judge and the jury with a smooth, self assured smile. "Good morning, your honour, members of the jury. My client, Jeremy Paxton is a good man. He's Townsville born and bred, has no previous convictions and his life has been torn apart by these allegations. Blossom Utonium, and other women who have seemingly jumped on the bandwagon, have falsely accused him of rape. The repercussions of this have been substantial. They have completely changed his life. The evidence and facts you will hear during this court will allow you, dear jury, to hear how this allegation has ripped an innocent man's life apart and made him live in fear. And you will see for yourself the many holes in the story." He sat down at his desk next to his aide, still looking smarmy and arrogant.

Molly Carter stood then; she had the same confidence as Hudson did, except it was a lot easier to swallow. But her confidence stemmed from her knowing her client was telling the truth. She was representing a Powerpuff girl for goodness sake; this was in the bag for her.

"I would like to call Dr Blossom Utonium to the stand." Carter said, turning to watch her client enter the courtroom with a sure smile on her face.

Blossom exhaled shakily. When she got to the stand, she mumbled out the oath, then stood, glancing at her counsellor with wide eyes, awaiting her questioning.

Molly Carter smiled warmly, stepping toward her. "Hi Dr Utonium. How are you feeling today?"

"Okay, I suppose." Blossom muttered. She gazed out at the many people in the viewing area. She could see plenty of familiar, friendly faces: Bubbles, Buttercup, Boomer and Butch. Brick wasn't there. He was being treated as a witness, he couldn't be in the viewing area to observe until after he had made his statement. She wished he was there, just to give her a bit more strength, because god, she was nervous.

"Good. Could you start by telling me how you knew Jeremy Paxton?" Molly asked.

"He used to work with my sister, Bubbles Jojo, at a dance production company. I'd met him a few times at a couple of wrap parties." Blossom answered, being sure not to look at Bubbles as she did; she knew her sister somehow blamed herself about it all, being the one to introduce them.

"Dr Utonium, on the 22nd January 2022, you went out for a work celebration with some of your colleagues from Townsville General Hospital, and you ended up at Temptress nightclub in downtown Townsville, correct?" Carter asked, and Blossom nodded.

"Yes."

"And you had one or two drinks?" Molly queried.

"I had two. One, prior to the one Jeremy bought me." Blossom answered, and Carter nodded.

"So Jeremy Paxton bought you a drink? How did that happen?"

"I bumped into him. We weren't on the greatest of terms, we very briefly dated but, in all honestly I feel like calling it dating is a stretch. I wasn't all that interested in a relationship with him and it ended before it really even started. I wasn't keen to chat with him when he approached me, seeing as the last time we spoke I made it very clear I didn't want to pursue a relationship with him. But he told me he had a girlfriend now and there were no hard feelings. Then he offered to buy me a drink." Blossom explained. "I was still apprehensive, but didn't want to be rude."

"What happened after that?" Molly said.

"I stood talking to him for a short time and then I just felt awful, and it came on within about 5 to 10 minutes of him buying me a drink. I couldn't stand upright, I couldn't talk, and I felt sick and dizzy. It's all a little blurry from there on out. I remember the burst of air on my face as he took me outside, and it just made me feel worse, and I threw up on the floor outside of the club." Blossom said.

"What is your next actual memory?" Molly Carter asked. Blossom paused for a moment, staring ahead of herself, trying to keep it together knowing that one of the hard bits was coming now.

"Waking up in his bedroom. I was laying on his bed, in my underwear. The straps to my bra were - they were done up all wonky, and the dress I'd been wearing the night previous was on the floor, covered in dry sick. I vaguely recognised the small apartment I could see through the open door; I'd been to Jeremy's place once before but never in his bedroom." Blossom said, a wave of nausea coming over her at the memory.

"And how were you feeling?" Molly asked gently.

"Scared." Blossom mumbled. "I felt horrendous. My head was hammering and I just felt horrible, no energy and nauseous."

"What did you do next Dr Utonium?" Molly said.

"My purse and shoes were on the floor, my casual clothes for after work were in there so I put them on. During that I spotted the used condoms in the trash can in his bedroom - and then I just ran. Jeremy wasn't at home, the apartment was empty. I went straight to the police department." Blossom said, fiddling with the sleeve of her shirt nervously.

"Okay. Thank you, Dr Utonium. If you refer to Exhibit A, your honor, and members of the jury, you will see the report written up by the medical team Blossom Utonium was seen by that night. There were indeed trace amounts of the drug rohypnol found in her system." Molly Carter was clogging over to a TV plugged in in the corner on a wheeled TV stand. She took the handle at the side and pulled it around so the jury and the judge could see. "We also have CCTV footage of the southern exit of Temptress nightclub. As you can see, Blossom Utonium, easily recognisable due to her vibrant hair colour, is hardly conscious, and led out of the nightclub by Jeremy Paxton - she vomits, then a bouncer intervenes. But undeterred, Paxton carries her limply away from the club." She took the video back again, replaying it. "You can see with your very own eyes, ladies and gentleman of the jury, that Dr Utonium isn't able to stand herself. She is dizzy and disorientated, and is vomiting violently. All symptoms of rohypnol use."

"Objection." Hudson stood. "These are all also symptoms of overuse of alcohol."

"Sustained." The judge murmured, gazing back at the CCTV footage. "There was rohypnol in her system, counsellor."

"Yes your honour." Carter agreed. She took her seat, smiling confidently at Blossom. But Blossom only swallowed as Sonny Hudson got to his feet.

"Hello, Miss Utonium." He oozed, smiling at her. Blossom pursed her lips at him, eyeing him carefully.

"Dr. Utonium." She corrected him, and he smiled a thin smile.

"Yes, of course. Dr. Utonium. Let me start by saying it's nice to meet you. You've done a lot for this city, which I just wanted you to know we are aware of, and thankful for."

"Bullshit." Buttercup murmured quietly, folding her arms across her chest. Bubbles hissed at her to shush.

"Start with your cross examination, counsellor." The Judge said, resting her head in the palm of her hand.

"Certainly your honour. Well, I can't argue with the CCTV evidence, Mr. Paxton did take you home with him that night, because clearly you weren't able to do so yourself." Hudson began, and Blossom narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, I could barely stand, he'd slipped rohypnol in the drink he had bought me." Blossom responded.

"Are you sure you weren't just a bit too drunk to get yourself home safely?" Hudson asked, and Carter jumped to her feet.

"Objection. No alcohol was found at the time the rape kit was performed." She cried.

"Sustained." The Judge said. "Go with the facts please, counsellor."

"Withdrawn." Sonny Hudson muttered, before shifting on his feet and glancing at Blossom again. "Are you aware rohypnol is used in the club scene as a relaxant as well as a date rape aid, Miss Utonium?"

"I am aware." Blossom said, finding it irritating he wouldn't call her Dr. Utonium.

"Have you ever used drugs recreationally?" Mr Hudson asked, and Blossom said no. "Definitely not? Not even as a teenager?" He was almost trying to persuade her to admit to something she'd never done.

"No." Blossom said, frowning deeply at him. "I'm a doctor, I know more than most the repercussions they have, I've seen it go wrong too often. Plus, I was too busy protecting Townsville and saving the day in my youth." Blossom pointed out.

"I see. Contrary to that though, you're now dating Brick Jojo, leader of the Rowdyruff boys, correct?" He asked her.

Blossom cranked a brow at him. "Correct. And that's the former leader. They're… Retired from villainy. And have been for a very long time now."

"Your honor, could you remind Miss Utonium to give yes/no answers when appropriate please?" Sonny Hudson said, not taking his eyes from Blossom.

"Continue please, Counsellor." The Judge said.

"Certainly. How long have you and Brick Jojo been dating?"

"Just over 6 years. Previously 10." Blossom answered.

"Lovely. Tell me, does Brick Jojo have a history of violence?" The defense asked, and the prosecuting jumped to her feet.

"Objection, what does this have to do with the case in hand?" Molly Carter cried.

"Overruled. Answer the question, Dr. Utonium." The judge decided, and Hudson smiled cockily, while Carter glared at his back.

"Yes, but not with me since being romantically involved, or since giving up his villain status." Blossom replied, watching what she said, she already had some idea of what he was attempting to do.

"Yes or no will suffice, Miss Utonium. Have you ever been scared of Brick Jojo?" The defense asked, and Blossom gave him a confused look.

"No." She answered simply, and he looked incredulous.

"Really? You used to fight a lot, back in the hero vs villain day. Are you sure about that?" He asked her.

"Yes I'm sure. No I've never been scared of him." Blossom answered honestly.

"Some may find that hard to believe. Were you dating Brick Jojo when you slept with Jeremy?" Hudson asked and Blossom's eyes flashed.

"I did not sleep with Jeremy. In order to sleep with someone you have to be conscious. He raped me." She snapped.

"Answer the question please." The defense continued.

Blossom exhaled angrily, reining her temper in. This was hard. "No I was not dating Brick, when Jeremy raped me."

"Were you dating anyone at all when the alleged rape occurred?" He continued and Blossom shook her head.

"No." She answered.

"Did you still have feelings for Brick Jojo when you slept with Jeremy?"

Blossom and Molly Carter both spoke angrily at the same time.

"Stop saying when I slept with him! He drugged and raped me!" Blossom snapped angrily.

"Objection! Hearsay." Carted cried.

"Sustained." The Judge muttered.

"Withdrawn." Hudson said, turning away in one sweeping motion. "At the time of the alleged attack, did you have feelings for anyone?"

"Yes."

"Brick Jojo, I'm going to presume?" The defense asked.

"Yes." Blossom answered.

"Tell me, does your partner have a temper?" He asked, and Blossom hesitated. She knew where he was going with this. "And I'll remind you you're under oath."

"Yes, he can. He has mellowed since becoming a father though." Blossom responded honestly.

"Would Brick have been angry at you for sleeping with someone, an old flame you'd bumped into at a nightclub?" Hudson queried.

She felt dread hit her as her suspicions were confirmed. "No, it wasn't like that at all. We weren't dating when it happened. We'd been broken up for over 3 years when the rape occurred. It wasn't like that."

"Was it easier to tell him you'd been drugged and attacked, then that you'd willingly slept with someone else?" Sonny Hudson asked, turning to face the jury now with a knowing, sympathetic look.

"I know what you're trying to do but it isn't like that. I was drugged! He drugged me with rohypnol!" Blossom insisted.

"Have you slept with a large number of men, Miss Utonium?" The defense suddenly asked and Blossom gave him a mildly offended look.

"Objection. Inflammatory." The Prosecution barked.

"Sustained. Where are you going with this, Hudson?" The judge asked.

"Have you had any long term relationships with anyone other than Brick Jojo?" Hudson questioned, and Blossom was still confused.

"No." She answered, uncertain.

"Not even a fling? Friends with benefits, type situation?" Hudson asked, smiling conceitedly. He knew what he was asking about, he already knew, he just wanted Blossom to say it, in front of the jury. "Remember you are under oath."

"Oh objection, what is this?" Carter cried.

But the judge was intrigued. "Overruled. Answer the question please."

Blossom looked to Butch; he was looking at her already. "Yes. A, a brief fling." She was instantly annoyed at herself for stuttering.

"Could you define brief?" Hudson pressed.

"A year." Blossom said flatly, not being able to avoid Buttercup's eye line. She didn't look happy. But Blossom could see why. Butch just looked uncomfortable.

"And who was this with?" Hudson couldn't stop the smile creeping up his face.

"What does that have to do with what Jeremy did?" Blossom quipped.

"Answer the question asked of you please, Miss Utonium." The defense instructed.

"Butch, Butch Jojo." Blossom eventually said.

"Your partner's brother?" Sonny Hudson reiterated, his expression haughty.

"Yes." Blossom bit out.

"You were in a relationship with Butch Jojo?" The defense clarified.

"It wasn't a relationship. It was, just - just sexual." Blossom said, still avoiding either of Buttercup or Butch's line of vision.

"Did you enjoy being with Butch Jojo?" Hudson asked with a smug smile on his face.

"Objection. This is irrelevant." Prosecuting said.

"Sustained, please move it along, counsellor." The judge said.

"Withdrawn - most certainly your honour. Miss Utonium, what were you wearing the night of the alleged assault?" Hudson questioned, and Blossom narrowed her eyes at him.

"A black dress." She answered shortly. "Could you refer to me using my given title, Dr. Utonium, please?"

"Was it particularly short? Low cut?" The defense asked, ignoring her other question, and Blossom glared at him deeply.

"Would I have deserved to have been drugged and raped if it was?" Blossom replied evenly, still glaring at him.

"Answer the question."

"No. It was a strappy black dress a colleague of mine had leant to me, because I wasn't planning to go to the late Christmas outing in the first place. But they insisted. And I relented." Blossom answered huffily.

"Why did you go off alone? Why were you alone when Jeremy Paxton allegedly preyed on you?" Hudson asked and Blossom gave him a seriously dirty look.

"I was going to get my second drink. I didn't think by approaching a bar alone I was forfeiting my right to basic safety." Blossom responded, and Sonny Hudson smiled at her. She was sharp, he'd give her that. He turned to face the jury.

"So, your honor, members of the jury, we have established the victim's relationship with two, not just one, but two members of a villainous group, the Rowdyruff boys, who have caused this town a number of headaches over the years. How is this relevant, you may be asking? I think it paints a picture of a person, these types of things." The defense said smoothly. "Especially with allegations of this kind."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Molly Carter asked, and the judge silenced her.

"I think the judge and the jury know what I'm getting at." He answered, and Blossom glared at him. He was accusing her of being easy. "I put it to you, Dr. Utonium, that you lied. You got yourself tangled up into a web of lies with two rough and violent criminals, and rather than face the consequences, you cried rape, and destroyed a man's life in the meantime."

"That isn't true." Blossom cried.

"Objection. He is badgering the witness your honour." Carter barked.

"Sustained." The judge responded.

"I have no more questions." The defense said, returning to his desk.

Molly gave Blossom a nod, and Blossom stepped down, trembling slightly. That was one half of it over, unless the defense called her up as well, which as far as she knew he wasn't going to. It was just watching the others go up now. And soon, she'd have to face Jeremy again. She hadn't seen him since her and Sasha had caught his confession. He'd actually been taken inside for breaking his bail, much to their surprise.

She took a seat beside her lawyers junior counsel, who gave her an encouraging nod. Instinctively, Blossom turned to look in the viewing area, where her family bar Brick were sitting. Bubbles blew her a kiss and Buttercup smiled at her; the pink puff sent an apologetic smile back her way but Buttercup didn't look mad. Blossom sighed, smiling half heartedly back before turning back around.

Prosecution called Brick to the stand then and Brick came through the side doors. He automatically found Blossom's face and gave her a look that asked, 'Are you okay?' She forced a warm smile onto her face back at him.

Brick took the oath then stood in the stand, awaiting Molly's questions.

"So Mr Jojo, you were the first person Blossom called, in the early hours of the morning, when she first became aware of what had happened?" Carter asked, and Brick nodded.

"Yes. She called me, she was at the police station, I went straight down there." He replied.

"Describe the state you found Blossom in, when you eventually got down to the department." Prosecuting questioned, and Brick glanced at Blossom for a moment. She looked slightly aghast.

"She didn't look like her. It was like she'd checked out. Just this small, ghost of herself." He answered honestly.

"And how is Blossom coping now?" Carter went on.

"She's not. She doesn't. There has been improvements of course over the years but, it's all ebbing away since he came back to Townsville."

"Had you met Jeremy Paxton previously?" Carter asked.

His jaw went rigid at the mention of Jeremy. "Not properly. We were less than acquaintances. Before it happened I just knew of him as the guy Blossom had been set up with."

"When did you first interact with him?" Molly queried.

"At my brother Boomer's house, he and his wife Bubbles had thrown a welcome home party for Blossom. She'd been away for work. He wasn't invited, but he came anyway, some of Bubbles' colleagues had mentioned it to him." Brick said, and Carter nodded.

"Thank you Mr Jojo. I have no more questions." She stepped back to her desk, and Brick breathed steadily, awaiting the onslaught of the defense.

Sonny Hudson stepped towards Brick, and his smarmy expression faltered slightly as Brick gazed at him with a dark, frosty expression, his red eyes almost piercing through him.

"Are you a violent man, Mr Jojo?" Was the question the defense began with.

But Brick didn't miss a beat. He just gave the counsellor an even look and said: "When I need to be."

Blossom groaned quietly, and Boomer covered his face.

"Right. Jeremy Paxton states that you and your retired villain brothers ran him out of town. Is that true?"

"Yes." Brick replied.

"How, exactly?" Hudson asked.

"I threatened him." Brick replied crisply. "I told him if he came back to Townsville and came anywhere near Blossom again, I would turn him into the cops, or kill him myself."

There was a slight silence in the courtroom, but Brick was undeterred. Sonny recollected himself slightly. "And you backed this threat up with the use of violence?"

"Yes. He's lucky I didn't kill him there and then." Brick said, matter of fact.

Hudson rose a brow, then continued his questioning. "Have you ever in your lifetime, hit Blossom Utonium?"

"That's a dumb question. You know I have in my lifetime."

"Do not mock the counsel, Mr Jojo." The judge chastised, but Brick ignored her.

"Yes, I've hit her in my lifetime, but no, I've never laid a finger on her in our romantic relationship." Brick responded.

"Have you ever intimidated her?" The defense pressed.

"No." Brick answered uninterestedly.

"Has she ever dated or slept with someone you've disapproved of, or disliked her being with?" He asked, and Brick faltered slightly, his eyes flickering to Butch, who looked slightly guilty. Damn, his antics of the past were coming back to bite them all right now.

But Brick shook his head. "No."

"No? Really? So you had no issues with her dating your brother, Butch Jojo?" Hudson asked, enjoying the fact that he'd hit a nerve.

"They didn't date." Brick replied, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

"Can you answer my question? You didn't have a problem with Butch Jojo and Blossom Utonium being in a sexual relationship, which is what your girlfriend previously described it as being during questioning?" Hudson asked in disbelief.

Brick was quietly seething, his expression fogging over in anger. Carter took this opportunity to jump in there before he could answer.

"Objection, what does Mr Jojo and Dr. Utonium's romantic life have to do with the case?" Prosecuting asked.

"Sustained. Move it along please, defense." The judge agreed.

"I'm done questioning anyway." Hudson said, looking Brick up and down, and returning to his post.

"The prosecution rests." Molly Carter said, nodding at the judge, who slowly slipped on her spectacles.

"I'm going to call for a brief recess, then we will reconvene for the defense's case in chief." She said before knocking her gavel against her desk.


"He's trying to turn this on Brick. Paint him as a violent, overbearing partner, and convince the jury you took rohypnol recreationally, slept with Jeremy and regretted it so cried rape. He's also trying to make the jury think you're promiscuous, Blossom. That's why he's using anything from your past that he can manipulate against you. It won't work. I don't think the judge will tolerate much more of him digging through your romantic history to try and make you seem like, well, a slutty liar." Molly Carter said, stirring her coffee as she glanced through her files in front of her. They were in the lobby of the courthouse once again.

"He's making out you're slutty?" Brick asked, feeling the rage boiling up again. "How?"

"That's why he's brought up Butch. I don't even know how Jeremy even knew it was Butch I was… 'With'." Blossom murmured, brow furrowed.

Brick quietened at the topic. It obviously wasn't his favourite thing to talk about, and it being dragged up now was just making the entire thing more stressful for him.

Bubbles and Boomer arrived with a cup of coffee for Brick and Blossom then; and Molly bid them adieu to prepare for the defense's case in chief.

The four of them sat at one of the tables, and Bubbles gave her sister an encouraging look. "How are you doing?"

"Okay. At least that's like a third of it over and done with now. I'm just dreading this next bit. Because he'll be there." Blossom murmured. "Talking about it all wrong. He's going to say horrible things, I just know it."

"Hey, we know what really happened. Try to not let it get to you." Boomer said, knowing it was easier said than done, but still wanting to try and show some support to his brother and sister in law.

"I know but, urgh, it's just awful feeling so judged by everyone. I can't wait for it to be over." Blossom said, covering her face.

"Where's Buttercup and Butch?" Boomer asked, trying to change the subject a little but then realising mentioning his green brother wasn't exactly doing that at the minute, what with the way the case had gone so far.

"I think they went outside for some air." Bubbles said softly. She felt for Buttercup, it must have been tough having it all brought up now her and Butch were so settled and happy. Regardless of how Buttercup brushed it off and pretended she didn't care, she knew it was one thing that would always bug her just a little bit. "Oh wait, there they are." Bubbles said, pointing across the lobby. "Why are they with Jeremy's lawyer?"

Boomer, Brick and Blossom all looked round in the direction she was pointing. And sure enough, Sonny Hudson and his junior counsel were stood talking with Buttercup and Butch several yards away.

"What the fuck?" Brick growled. "What do you think he's doing?"

"Trying to pull some sneaky trick, I'd guess." Bubbles muttered. Both Buttercup and Butch didn't look impressed as he spoke to them, Buttercup particularly, eventually he walked away, heading back towards the courtroom; but Butch had a sheet of paper in his hand that the defense counsellor had given him.

Buttercup and Butch stood chatting for a few minutes; they looked like they were arguing. Blossom sighed, burying her head into her hands again. This was all too stressful for words. She couldn't believe all that with Butch had been brought up. Not only was this causing upset for herself, and Brick, but now it was causing problems and emotional upheaval between Butch and Buttercup.

She was really beginning to wish she'd not agreed to all of this those few months ago.

Slowly the two brunettes made their way over to their brothers and sisters, and Brick practically leapt on them the moment they arrived at their table.

"What did Hudson want?" Brick demanded as Blossom slowly looked up guiltily.

"They've asked Butch to testify." Buttercup said bitterly, folding her arms across her chest as she sat down beside Bubbles.

"Why?" Blossom gasped, looking to Butch.

"He said it was to get a better picture of what was happening in our lives during that time, or something." Butch said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Why? Why would they want to talk to you? Why? What fucking game does he think he's playing?" Brick snarled.

"It's like Molly said, isn't it? He's probably just trying to show Blossom and Brick in bad light. Maybe he thinks he'll achieve that by bringing Butch up to the stand." Bubbles said and Blossom swallowed, still looking at Butch.

"Are you going to do it?" Blossom mumbled. Butch suddenly looked really torn as he looked at her sadly. But Buttercup answered before he could.

"I don't think he should." She said. Butch looked at her then, his expression was almost apologetic.

"I'm with Buttercup. He thinks you'd be helpful for him, to help Jeremy get off." Brick said to Butch.

"But if he manages to wangle this, I don't exactly have a choice." Butch said, showing them the piece of paper he was holding. "I'll get arrested if I don't, it's a legal summons to court."

"Then get arrested." Brick quipped and Blossom shot him an astounded look.

"Brick! No!" Blossom exclaimed.

"Dude, I'm already skating on thin ice for punching a 14 year old in the face with my son's fist." Butch quipped, receiving confused looks from his family.

"Let's come back to that at a later date." Boomer murmured, completely baffled by whatever it was his brother was talking about. Buttercup, who knew about Butch's antics on the school playground and the caution that had followed it, covered her face in her hands momentarily.

"Butch no, you don't need to go through all that over this. If you've been summoned as a witness, then, well there isn't much we can do about it..." Blossom said quietly. She noticed Molly Carter and her junior marching towards the judge's chambers, and she felt slightly relieved - she wouldn't allow him to do this. "Can he really call a witness up that late? I didn't think it worked like that."

"He's clearly trying to work the system somehow or something." Brick complained.

"Well, if his lawyer manages to get the judge to agree, I don't see what's so wrong in Butch doing what he has to." Bubbles said, and everyone looked round at her all at once.

"What do you mean?" Buttercup asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Well, if Butch has been called as a witness, legally he has to stand for questioning. And it doesn't matter if he does anyway. Jeremy is guilty. Nothing Butch could possibly tell them all is going to disprove that. We have nothing to hide here." Bubbles explained softly, and everyone could see she was right.

"You're right." Buttercup muttered, giving her redheaded sister's hand a gentle squeeze. "It's not going to change anything is it…"

"No. It still happened and he's still guilty. But, he's probably just going to ask a bunch of questions about.. About Butch and I, years ago…" Blossom added. Buttercup's expression soured considerably, but she didn't let go of Blossom's hand. Her having to hear details about their year long fling wasn't half as bad as what Blossom was about to face, and she knew that.

"I'm sure I can handle it." Buttercup murmured. Brick was looking at Buttercup, knowing how she felt, but also trying to just focus on Blossom, and what she was going through, or was about to.


Sonny Hudson approached the jury and then turned to face the judge. "I would like to call Detective Jenkins to the stand." He said, turning to watch Blossom's specialist detective come in through the side door, take the oath and take the stand.

"Why does he want to talk to your cop?" Buttercup leant forward to ask Blossom, who was sitting beside her lawyer, and she shrugged in reply. She was just grateful she didn't have to sit and look at Jeremy yet.

"Detective Jenkins, can you confirm that you were not the leading officer in this case when it was first reported on the 23rd January 2022?" The defense asked and Jenkins shook her head lightly.

"No, I reopened the case after a second victim came forward, and the media attention on the allegations heightened. I also came to discover a few errors that occurred when the crime was originally reported." Detective Jenkins replied, catching the judge's attention.

But Hudson knew mistakes wouldn't help his case, so he ignored her last sentence. "And you've arrested hundreds of rapists, correct?"

"Wait a second, what errors are we talking about, Detective Jenkins?" The judge asked. Hudson grit his teeth.

"Well, it was more certain steps that could have been taken, should have been taken, weren't. For instance, no one had checked CCTV footage, which I in turn did. Dr Utonium may have had a better chance of the case not being dropped if these corners hadn't been cut in 2022." Detective Jenkins explained, and the judge nodded, taking everything in.

"Continue, Mr Hudson." She said, and Sonny forced a smile onto his face.

"Certainly. Detective Jenkins, you've arrested hundreds of rapists, correct?" Hudson asked, and Jenkins cranked an eyebrow.

"Yes. My team specialises in sex crimes." She replied.

"How many innocent men have you bought to trial?" Hudson continued, and Jenkins thought about it briefly.

"Only one, but when I realised he was innocent I fought for his release." She answered.

"So an innocent man being brought to trial for a sex crime he didn't commit has happened at the hands of your team before?" Hudson reiterated, and Jenkins pursed her lips.

"Only once." She repeated.

"But it has happened. A rape kit was performed on Miss Utonium, correct?" He went on to ask.

"Yes it was, only hours after the assault." Jenkins said.

"And what evidence was found?" The defense questioned.

"There was no semen found, due to the use of condoms; which according to the report were spotted in Mr Paxton's bedroom trash can before Dr Utonium left his apartment. No other bodily secretions were found either, but there was slight trauma consistent with sexual assault." Detective Jenkins said.

"There is no way to know that condoms were used during a rape or consensual sex, is there?" Hudson pointed out.

"No, but Dr. Utonium having rohypnol in her system, blacking out for hours on end, suffering flashbacks symptomatic of post traumatic stress disorder, and having internal trauma commonly found on someone who has been raped speaks for itself." She responded quickly.

Hudson frowned momentarily, then recovered. "Is it possible this kind of trauma can occur from consensual sex?"

"It is possible, yes." Detective Jenkins answered after an irritated pause.

"And once again, no DNA evidence of Mr Paxton was found on Miss Utonium?" Hudson confirmed.

"No." Detective Jenkins answered bitterly.

"Thank you. No more questions." The defense said.

Blossom felt sick. It was just like when she'd got the letter from the police department all those years ago, saying the case had been dropped. She looked at the jury. She could see some of their faces had changed. Doubt. She could see it. What if this swayed them? What if this was enough to make them think she was lying about the whole thing? She felt so sick.

Molly Carter stepped forward then to cross examine the witness. "Detective Jenkins, you believe there were certain errors made by Townsville Police department in 2022 when Dr. Utonium first reported the crime? Could you elaborate on that?"

"Yes, no CCTV was checked, it even states that there isn't any in the areas Dr. Utonium and Mr Paxton were on the night the allegations happened. But that isn't true, as you saw earlier, I found CCTV footage of Dr. Utonium being led from the nightclub, half conscious, with Mr Paxton. His apartment also wasn't searched - more evidence could have been found if this had happened, for instance, the used condoms could have been found, or rohypnol. None of this happened, though. And they are all steps that should have been taken." Detective Jenkins revealed.

"It's a fucking joke." Buttercup spat quietly.

"Tell me about it." Bubbles agreed. "After everything we've done for the police department and the city."

"So would you go as far as to say Townsville Police department failed Dr Utonium in 2022?" Carter asked, and Detective Jenkins nodded.

"I would, yes. She may have had a higher chance of trial and conviction years ago had there not have been this major oversight by TPD. Seemingly, because the rape kit results were so poor, they were more inclined to drop the case due to no evidence. But using a condom is like the new rapists trick. Not only does it protect them from STD's and pregnancy, but they can take the evidence away with them. And from my experience, it is a method commonly used by repeat offenders." Detective Jenkins said. "Like Mr Paxton."

"Objection." Hudson cried. "The defendant is innocent until proven guilty."

"Sustained." The judge muttered.

"I have no more questions." Carter said, taking her seat once again.

The defense was calling Butch to the stand now, and he came through the side door with the usher as Brick had done.

Blossom once again breathed a sigh of relief; at least Jeremy wasn't here yet. She knew it was only a matter of time before his questioning began.

"Mr Jojo, how long have you known Miss Utonium?" Counsellor Hudson asked, beginning to slowly pace in front of him in the stand.

"Since I was like 5; all of my life really." Butch answered casually.

"And what is your current relationship with her?" He continued.

"She's like my sister in law, and a good friend. She's family." Butch replied. Blossom smiled slightly.

"But your relationship used to be very different didn't it?" The defense questioned, smirking at him.

"Well yeah, years ago." Butch replied, still just as casual, he didn't have anything to hide.

"You were romantically involved with Miss Utonium in 2021, correct?" Hudson confirmed and Butch shook his head.

"No."

"You're saying you never dated Blossom Utonium?" Hudson asked again, surprised Butch was lying.

"No, we didn't date." Butch replied, still unabashed.

"Mr Jojo you are aware you are under oath?" The Judge said, tipping her specs slightly. "It has already been stated by both Dr Utonium herself and your brother that you were involved at some point."

"We weren't dating." Butch continued.

"You deny a romantic relationship with Blossom Utonium?" Hudson asked again.

Buttercup and Brick were both watching him with pursed lips.

"We weren't romantically involved, our relationship was purely physical. We weren't boyfriend and girlfriend." Butch insisted.

"You had a sexual relationship with Miss Utonium?" Hudson reiterated.

"Yes. Just like Blossom said." Butch said, as Blossom and Buttercup breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't just going to deny what had happened.

"How long for?" Hudson pressed. He was also glad Butch wasn't planning to lie. He was taking a gamble himself bringing him up here for questioning.

"About a year." He responded.

"And she used to date your brother? And is now, again?" Hudson asked.

"Yes." Butch said flatly.

"Objection, this is irrelevant." Carter said, jumping to her feet.

"Overruled." The Judge muttered.

"Who initiated this affair of sorts?" Hudson asked, and Butch screwed his face up.

"It wasn't an affair. We were both single at the time." He folded his arms across his chest.

"Can you answer the question Mr Jojo?" Hudson continued.

"What does that even matter? It was like, a million years ago?! We're both practically married, with kids now." Butch spluttered. He didn't want to talk about all this, not in front of Buttercup, or Brick. He could see Buttercup's face, how uncomfortable she looked. They didn't need this kind of talk right now.

"Mr Jojo answer the question asked of you." The judge barked, and Butch sighed angrily.

"I dunno, it was so long ago now. It kind of just happened. It was probably me that made the first move." Butch answered, avoiding his girlfriend's line of vision.

That wasn't the answer Hudson was looking for though. So he turned his questioning to a different angle. "How did Brick feel about this?"

"He didn't know, for most of the 'relationship' if you need to call it that." Butch replied.

"But when he found out?"

"He was pissed off." Butch said, and Hudson smiled.

"It upset him?" The defense asked.

"Yeah." Butch muttered, struggling to stay calm now.

"Was he angry?" He pressed.

"Well, yeah. Of course he was."

"Did he become violent?" Hudson asked and Butch narrowed his eyes at him.

"My brothers and I are always violent with each other." He said, nonchalant.

"Was he physically violent about your relationship with Blossom?" The defense asked.

"Yes! He beat my ass for it, but what do you expect?" Butch cried, and Brick rubbed at his forehead with a sigh.

"You can confirm Brick Jojo has a temper?" Sonny Hudson asked yet again and Butch ground his teeth together in anger.

"Yes, and so do I." Butch growled.

The defense counsel had a large smirk on his face as he returned to his desk where his junior sat, and retrieved a piece of paper from him, which he began to read off of. "Can you also confirm that Brick Jojo has been arrested, or attempted to be arrested, 38 times in his lifetime, according to his criminal records?"

"What?" Butch asked, baffled. Brick looked up from his hands in surprise. Hudson repeated his question, waiting for an answer from Butch.

"I don't know?" He cried incredulously.

So Hudson reworded it. "Can you confirm that Brick Jojo, your brother, has been charged for incidents of arson, GBH, violent disorder, robbery, burglary, breach of bail conditions, criminal damage, assault - I can go on -"

Butch interrupted him. "His record's not clean but neither is mine or my brothers, in fact it's probably identical."

Hudson began to repeat the question again but prosecuting interrupted him. "Objection! What does this have to do with anything? Brick Jojo isn't the one on trial here."

"Yeah, Jeremy is, for rape, remember? Much worse than anything Brick, me or Boomer have ever done to this shitty town in our past." Butch added.

"Thank you Mr Jojo." The judge barked. "Sustained." She added, looking to Carter, then Hudson.

"I'm done questioning." Hudson said, turning to face the jury. "Members of the jury, these facts lead me to wonder who the real criminal is here?" He pondered aloud. Brick shook his head in disbelief.

"This is fucking ridiculous." He muttered under his breath.

"It isn't going to work." Bubbles said surely.

Prosecution stood then to cross examine Butch. She looked to the jury first. "Jeremy Paxton is the real criminal here, members of the jury. Not Brick Jojo, or either of his brothers. Mr Jojo, I was wondering if you could shed some light on when Mr Paxton and Dr Utonium were seeing each other before the attack. What were they like together?" She asked.

Butch thought back momentarily. "He came on very strong. Blossom was kind of 'involved' with me at the time, and was trying to take it slow with Jeremy as she still had some wounds from Brick and their break up. Jeremy was obsessive, though; constantly showing up at her work or wherever she was and hounding her. Their relationship, if you can even call it that, was brief, but he just wouldn't let it go. There was always something odd about him. She told me more than once that he kept calling her or he kept showing up at her apartment. He only backed off when she made out to him that she was in a relationship with me, which wasn't the case, but he felt he'd been cheated on and was angry and upset. And then he finally left her alone."

"And then the next time he saw her was at Temptress?" Molly questioned, and Butch nodded.

"Yeah, as far as I am aware."

"So he had reason to be upset with her in the first place; he thought he'd been cheated on, he had his own reason for some kind of revenge?" Carter asked and Butch nodded.

"Definitely." He replied, and Molly smiled. Hudson's little trick wouldn't work.

"Thank you, no more questions." Carter said, and Butch stepped down, leaving the courtroom.

Prosecution took her seat at the desk with Blossom and her junior once again, and the defense lawyer began to arrange some papers on his desk to prepare for what was to come next.

Blossom swallowed hard as she watched Hudson step forward and clear his throat. She knew what was coming. Jeremy was coming.

"I would like to call the defendant, Jeremy Paxton, to the stand." Hudson said, and Blossom felt sick. She wrapped her fingers along the table top nervously and tried to take deep breaths. Beside her, the junior counsel clutched at her quivering hand and Blossom was more grateful for the gesture than she'd ever know. Not being able to sit with her family right now was tough.

The side doors opened, and he came inside, cuffed and escorted by two policemen. They walked him to the stand, uncuffing him as he took the oath and stood ready for questioning.

Blossom watched him examining the crowd, and she noted that he looked scared. She was glad he was scared. Finally, he'd ended up in a courtroom for his crimes. She just hoped he'd actually go down for all he had done.

Regardless of everything that had happened, Blossom felt like this was the most terrifying time she had seen him. Because she knew he was about to lie through his teeth to try and save his own ass. She knew he was going to say some awful, untrue things. It was making keeping that pale blue lampshade that often signalled a flashback at bay difficult.

"Mr Paxton, can you describe for us what happened on the night of January 22nd 2022?" Hudson asked, and it began.

"I was going out with my work colleagues after work, Bubbles Jojo, who was a colleague of mine at the time, didn't come out with us on this occasion." He'd found Bubbles in the crowd as he said this, and she glared at him, as did everyone else. He eyes travelled to Blossom then, and she swallowed hard as he looked at her. "We went to Temptress, and I got split up from my friends. I spotted Blossom out at the bar, queuing to get a drink. She was alone. I hadn't seen her in a few months, since we split up because she was seeing someone else, who I now know was Butch Jojo." He glanced at Butch then, and was once again greeted with a glare.

"We got to talking, and I could see she'd already had a few drinks, she was unsteady on her feet -" He continued until Carter stood and interrupted him.

"Objection, we have evidence that Blossom only had two drinks that night, and one of them was the drugged drink Jeremy gave her. Traces of alcohol was found in her bloodstream during the rape kit." Carter cried.

"It was hours later the rape kit was done, any alcohol could have left her system by then, so it's a moot point." Hudson countered.

"Objection, what about the written testimony from two of Blossom's colleagues, who she attended Temptress with that night, stating she only had one drink prior to the one Jeremy gave her? Exhibit e4, your honor, members of the jury." Carter rebutted, and Hudson sneered at her. There was a flutter of papers as the jury and the judge looked through their evidence. Blossom mentally thanked Tess and Tom from work for agreeing to written testimony.

"Well she had rohypnol in her system, maybe she'd taken that prior and that was what was making her unsteady on her feet." Hudson proposed, but Carter bit his head off once again.

"I wasn't drunk!" Blossom hissed quietly.

"Objection - are you insinuating Blossom took rohypnol prior to Jeremy Paxton approaching her?" Carter questioned.

"She must have done. I didn't give her any." Jeremy muttered.

"These written testimonies hold." The judge said. "Continue. What else happened, in your own words, that night Mr Paxton?"

"I bought her a drink," Jeremy carried on. "and she became faint suddenly, vomited and passed out. I didn't know what to do, my house was closer so I took her home and laid her on my bed to sleep it off. I thought I was being a nice guy. She awoke a little while later, seeming a lot better. That was when one thing lead to another and we had sex."

Blossom shook her head as she listened to him, eyes wide with shock. "He's lying." She mumbled quietly.

"How many times did you have sexual intercourse?"

"Twice." Jeremy said, and Blossom hid her head in her hands.

"Oh god." She whimpered.

"And did Miss Utonium seem to give consent?" The defense asked and Jeremy nodded.

"Of course. I mean, I couldn't force her - she's super powered!" He cried.

"He's lying." Blossom said, louder this time. "He's lying!"

"Quiet in the courtroom please."

Hudson asked Jeremy what happened after that. "I woke up later, and went out to buy breakfast for us. When I got back she was gone."

"When did you see Miss Utonium next?"

"About 3 months later, at her surprise party at Bubbles' house. She was heavily pregnant, I was concerned the baby was mine. It was the only reason I approached her." He said, looking at Blossom quickly, who was looking at him in disgust.

"And this was where Brick Jojo attacked you?" Hudson clarified, and Jeremy nodded once again.

"Yes, he caught me talking with Blossom, he must have been jealous, or something." Jeremy said. Brick was rigid in his seat. If he moved even an inch he knew he'd just lunge for him.

"Members of the jury, your honor, if you see to exhibit d5, you will see photos of the injuries Mr Paxton sustained at the hands of Brick Jojo." Hudson said. There was a hushed gasp as they looked over the photos taken at the hospital. "Mr Paxton attended Townsville General Hospital for his injuries but refused to speak to the police about the matter through fear of further assault or worse. After this attack, Mr Hudson, you were told to leave Townsville and never come back, correct?"

"Yes." Jeremy said, chancing a glance at Brick, who snarled at him.

"And you did, didn't you?" Hudson said, sympathy evident in his face.

"Yeah, I mean - I was scared for my life. I only came back to Townsville now because my sister became very ill again. She has chronic kidney disease. I couldn't risk her dying and me not being able to say goodbye because of all this." Jeremy said, and Blossom shook her head. He really was disgusting, trying to come across as a genuine guy.

"Thank you, Mr Paxton. No further questions." Hudson said. Carter got up then to begin her cross examination.

"I hope she fucking rips him apart." Buttercup hissed under her breath.

"Mr Paxton, you were pretty keen on Blossom Utonium when your former work colleague introduced you to her, weren't you?" Molly Carter began, and Jeremy swallowed before nodding.

"Yes. I was definitely interested." He replied, sounding nervous.

"Were you mad when she wasn't super keen on you back?" Carter said, and Jeremy frowned.

"Not mad. Upset, maybe. I didn't do anything wrong." Jeremy said, sounding like a pouting child.

"Can you admit to being a little needy? Pestering her as she left her place of work? Turning up on her doorstep?" Molly asked, her expression mildly sympathetic.

Jeremy blinked, considering her words. "I did that like once. Not often."

"Finding out she was seeing someone else when you went on a handful of dates with her must have got you mad right?" Carter pressed, and Jeremy shrugged.

"No, again - I was more upset than anything." He replied. Carter asked if it bugged him and he agreed that it did.

"So, when you spotted Blossom Utonium standing alone at the bar at Temptress that night - did you see an opportunity?"

"Objection. Counsel is asking leading questions." Hudson cried.

"Overruled. Move along please Carter." The judge muttered.

"Mr Paxton, I am right in thinking you say Dr Utonium was conscious, and consensual when you had sexual intercourse with her on the night of 22nd January 2022, yes?" Carter started by asking, and Jeremy nodded, swallowing hard.

"Yes. She was." He answered.

"Yet you claim she was so drunk, or high on drugs only a matter of hours, if that, earlier that she passed out?" Carter asked, and Jeremy suddenly began to look nervous.

"Yes, but she had come around when we had sex. She was conscious. And, and willing." He replied.

"You're under oath, Mr. Paxton." Molly Carter reminded him.

"I know." He muttered.

"You're saying, under oath, she was conscious?" She reiterated.

Jeremy paused, glancing at his lawyer, before murmuring out a shaky: "Yes."

"If the jury can't see he is totally lying they're all dumb as fuck." Buttercup muttered irritably.

"He's just digging himself a deeper hole." Bubbles replied.

"So you thought it wise to have sexual intercourse with a woman who had not long been out of it to the point where she was sick, disorientated and passed out? Did it never cross your mind she may have clouded judgement still?" Carter asked.

"No."

"When you saw Blossom 3 months later, did you intimidate her?"

"No. I, I was just concerned about her being pregnant." He stammered. "My only concern was that the child she was carrying could have been mine, because of our night together."

"What about when you saw her next after that?" Prosecution questioned.

"What - when do you mean?" He stammered.

"Answer the question." She barked at him.

"I can't remember when I saw her next." He said after a pause.

"Mr. Paxton can you confirm you were on the critical care ward at Townsville General Hospital on 15th September 2029?" Molly asked, and Jeremy blinked, asking her what she meant. So she repeated the question.

"I can't confirm for definite but, yes, I probably was. Visiting my sister." Jeremy murmured.

"And Blossom Utonium was your sister, Hayley Paxton's doctor, correct?" Carter pressed, and Jeremy told her yes. "But she wasn't her doctor for long as she was forced to hand her care over to a different doctor. Do you know why?"

"No idea." Jeremy replied, beginning to pale even more.

"Did you talk to her at work?" Molly Carter queried.

"Yes, but only about my sister's health. Our previous relationship wasn't discussed." Jeremy said, having the cheek to glance over at Blossom again.

"How about when you cornered her in a hospital supply closet?" Carter asked, and Jeremy stiffened. "While she was on shift, may I add."

"I don't recall this happening." He murmured.

"You don't huh? Well, lucky for you I can stir your memory for you. We have CCTV evidence of this happening. May I, your honor?" Molly asked, she'd pulled the TV stand over once again.

"Go ahead." The judge said. Blossom suddenly felt she was going to throw up. She glanced at Brick as the clip appeared on the screen; slightly blurry and black and white, but clear enough to make out.

The room was silent as they watched. The clip was silent too, and Blossom found it pretty eerie, the entirely quiet room watching a terrible moment from her life in muted black and white.

Molly rewound the clip and played it again, this time describing what you could see. "As you can see, the defendant is aggressively backing her into the supply closet. He grabs her face to make her look at him, and she pushes his arm away. He then proceeds to grope her breast. Her expression is clearly frightened and uncomfortable; she raises her arm to stop him and eventually she fends him off. He has a few more words to say, then leaves. Dr Utonium then breaks down." She explained for the judge and the jury watching. "Until another doctor enters here, and she forces herself to resume her job and pretend nothing happened."

Blossom glanced at Brick; he looked like it was taking everything in him not to charge, not to scream, not to kill him. She looked along the row her family were all sitting on. Bubbles had big tears on her cheeks and Buttercup looked just as furious as Brick did.

"So can you explain that for us, Mr Paxton?" Carter said, pushing the TV away slightly and turning back to face Jeremy.

"Maybe I just read the signals wrong." Jeremy said lamely.

"You're saying you thought Dr Utonium wanted you to touch her? While she was on duty at work, caring for your sister, I may add?" Carter reiterated.

"Yeah." Jeremy said, looking to his lawyer shiftily. Hudson looked like he was grinding his teeth into sand.

"She didn't look that way on the CCTV. She looked frightened, don't you think?" Carter asked, but Hudson leapt to his feet.

"Objection, leading questions again." He cried.

"Sustained. Mr Hudson, the act just seen on the CCTV is sexual harassment." The judge said, looking at Jeremy with a dire expression. "Answer the question, Mr. Paxton."

"I, I guess she looks a little startled." Jeremy answered quietly.

"I have more for you to see." Carter replied with a smile, going back to the TV. "Can you talk to me about when you entered the co ed staff locker room after Blossom Utonium had entered to change out of her scrubs and collect her belongings after she finished a shift? Do you recall that?"

"No." He responded too quickly.

"I didn't think you would. You accosted her while she was changing." Carter accused him. Brick's eyes flashed as he glanced at Jeremy, then at Blossom, who swallowed hard. She hadn't really gone into much detail about Jeremy's intimidation when she'd told Brick about it. "And you suggested you have sex in the locker room. So cocksure of yourself and your newfound power over Dr Utonium, you thought you could coerce her into sexual intercourse in her place of work."

"I didn't -" Jeremy stammered, looking a picture of guilt. "We didn't have sex!"

"You told her she owed you that much." Carter came back with.

"Objection, this is all hearsay! We have no evidence of this." Hudson rebutted.

"Overruled." The judge said, and Carter frowned momentarily.

"Unfortunately we don't have CCTV of inside the locker room, for obvious reasons, but I can prove you entered that locker room." Carter said, pressing play at the next clip. Jeremy is on the CCTV of the staff room, stalking inside the locker room that was attached to it angrily. A few minutes later, he charges out.

Brick was fuming. He gave Blossom a riled look. She had not gone into enough detail when she'd said he'd tormented her at work. This was way beyond what he'd imagined.

"Objection!" Hudson cried. "You've no proof of what entailed when the defendant entered that locker room!"

"Overruled." The Judge muttered, nodding at Carter to continue speaking.

"You were angry with Blossom. She ruined your life didn't she? She ran you out of town. Out of your hometown. When you supposedly did nothing wrong... You knew she was afraid of you, you used that power to threaten her again, but she stopped you." Carter said and Jeremy began shaking his head.

"No!" He cried.

"If we watch the footage of you leaving once again," She said, pointing to the screen as the clip played. "We can see you storm out. You seem pretty angry. What happened?"

"I must have read the signs wrong again." Jeremy repeated. Carter crinkled her brow at him.

"You thought she wanted to have sex with you in her place of work's locker room? Even though she has a long term partner, with whom she shares two children, and claims you raped her? And is clearly frightened of you?" She questioned incredulously.

"No comment." Jeremy burbled.

"Fill us in Jeremy come on - is there some aspect of yours and Dr Utonium's relationship we're not aware of that could shed some light on what happened?" Carter pressed but Jeremy was still frozen.

"No comment." He mumbled again.

Hudson got to his feet. "Your Honor, if I could call for a short recess?"

"Recess granted. Prosecution's cross examination will continue after." The Judge said, banging her gavel.

Brick stood up, and swiftly left the courtroom.


Brick stood halfway up the staircase, breathing heavily as he stared out of the glass window in front of him.

He was furious. He was so fucking furious and he just couldn't hold it in any longer. He let out an ear splitting roar of frustration, trembling with the ferocity of it.

Once Blossom had managed to make her legs move, which had taken a few seconds, she'd jumped up and followed Brick to see if he was okay. She'd heard his bellowing, and followed the sound, still feeling overcome with sickness from the stress of it all.

"Why, why didn't you tell me he did that?!" Brick asked through shallow, angered breaths.

"Brick, try and calm down. I'm sorry you're upset, but he's not worth the consequences of your anger." Blossom said, standing a few steps away from him on the staircase.

"Upset? I've just watched CCTV footage of him touching you, and intimidating you, and you? You crumbling in fear and just breaking, and I'm expected to do fuck all about it?! He thinks he can just corner you and make you do whatever he wants, and I can't -" He couldn't finish his sentence, his anger was so black and pure and overwhelming. "I'm gunna kill him Blossom I'm gunna fucking kill him!" He roared, turning to leave. But Blossom grabbed him, and pulled him straight into her arms.

She held him tightly, as tight as she could muster. He didn't try to pull away but he was stiff with anger and didn't hold her back. "We're in this together, remember. I'm here for you just as much as you're here for me." Her voice was thick with emotion.

"Let me go Blossom, I'm going to do exactly what I should have done in the first place. And I don't fucking care what happens afterwards." He said, but that fiery passion in his voice was diluted by her calming touch.

"No. You're not. I'm here for you Brick." She told him gently, refusing to let go of him. She could hear his heart thumping away in his chest. But eventually, it slowed a bit, as he calmed down. Seriously, the woman was like a tranquilizer to him sometimes.

"This is tough on you, too. And I'm here for you. I love you." Blossom told him.

"I love you too."


"Hey, BC."

Buttercup looked up at Butch expectantly as they tucked into the muffin's he'd bought them from the coffee shop in the lobby.

"Are we okay?" Butch said, and Buttercup gave him a confused look.

"What kind of a question is that?" She asked, taking a bite of her cake.

"A legitimate one." Butch said with a shrug.

"What do you mean are we okay?" She said, and he looked at her for a few seconds before responding.

"I mean, are we okay? None of this was supposed to go like this. I didn't think I'd get pulled into it all." Butch said, and she shook her head slightly, looking down at the table.

"It isn't about you, or me. It's about Blossom, and getting the justice she deserves, and that guy getting thrown in fucking jail for the foreseeable." Buttercup said.

"I know," Butch replied rapidly, "but, it was still tough on you, having to have all that dragged up again. It wasn't fair for you to have to hear it all again."

"Don't be stupid, this isn't tough on me, it's tough on Blossom, and Brick."

"Buttercup." Butch said, and his voice sounded more serious than it had before. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry any of it ever happened."

Buttercup half smiled at him. "Yeah? Well, I am too. But then in a weird way I'm not. If you didn't hit rock bottom -"

Butch interrupted her with a smirk. "Whoa, harsh -"

"You know what I mean! Low enough to think fucking my sister, for a year, was a good idea, well, maybe we wouldn't have all that we have now. Maybe it wouldn't have been a wake up call. I'd still be with Mitch, and be unhappy, but telling myself things were fine, and you'd be what? Probably hospitalised with some nasty STD you caught that made your dick fall off?" Buttercup hazarded a guess, and Butch laughed.

"I guess so." He chuckled. "But, I'm still sorry. I seriously didn't think you'd care at the time."

"Well, I did. And I do. You're mine. And you always have been." She said, leaning forward to kiss him firmly on the lips.


"So you still swear, under oath, that you and Blossom Utonium had consensual sex on the night of January 22nd 2022, and that you read signals wrong and you never intended to sexually harass and assault her in her work place in September of this year?" Molly Carter asked, pacing along slowly in front of Jeremy in the stand, not taking her eyes off him as he replied.

"Yes." He was definitely looking nervous. His lawyer had told him to pull it together but he hadn't managed to.

"What about what happened 2 weeks ago, on 22nd October of this year, when you confronted Blossom Utonium and Sasha Wood, another alleged victim, outside of Townsville General Hospital?" Carter questioned, and Jeremy's eyes grew wider.

"I, I don't recall what you're talking about." He muttered.

"You didn't approach them outside the hospital? Even though your bail conditions were broken in the process, and you were charged for it? And thrown into Townsville Jail until trial?" Molly responded. Hudson got to his feet, disagreeing.

"Objection, how is this relevant?" Hudson tried, knowing it wouldn't work.

"Overruled. Go on, Carter." The judge said.

"Thank you. Let me refresh things for you, Mr Paxton. You were angry. You'd just found out the police had paid your hospitalised sister, Hayley Paxton, a visit and interviewed her. She even submitted a testimony against you. Your own sister thinks you're guilty." Carter explained for him.

Jeremy looked angered, but ashamed.

"But we'll come to that later. You were angry, you spotted Dr Utonium and Miss Woods and you snapped. You vented your pent up aggressions to them, you - hang on, I don't need to explain this, I can just show you all. Your honour, we have digital evidence that was handed into the police by Miss Woods. The altercation was recorded on a mobile cell device." Molly Carter said, turning to face the judge now.

"Play away." The judge said, and Carter nodded as the TV was set up to play the piece of audio.

The clip Sasha had recorded on her phone was played aloud for all to hear.

Blossom couldn't hide the smug, proud smile on her face as Jeremy swallowed hard, guilt evident on his face. Even Hudson was struggling to not look stumped.

"We have the CCTV footage of the exchange." Carter said, pulling the TV over and playing the next clip. "Note the time and date matches with the footprint of the digital evidence." She added as the jury watched on. "Care to explain that exchange, Mr Paxton?"

"Objection, how can we even prove this was Jeremy Paxton on the recording?" Hudson cried. "The body of the crime - you can't prove this is him. It could be anyone posing as Jeremy Paxton!"

"Overruled. I have deemed this confession as admissible - it was made voluntarily by the defendant. He was not pressured by anyone to part with this confession. The CCTV footage clearly shows an altercation between Mr Paxton, Dr Utonium and Ms Woods outside the hospital, and the data from the submitted audio matches with the CCTV evidence, making this confession legitimate evidence. Mr. Paxton, may I remind you you are under oath. And if you're lying at all, you're committing perjury." The judge said, her tone scolding and serious.

Jeremy looked to his lawyer, who just gave him a blank expression. He looked as though he knew he'd lost already. Jeremy had lied through his teeth and it had done him no favours. "N-no comment." Jeremy stuttered.

"I didn't think you would have a comment. But a smart jury would see that this is an outright confession." The prosecuting had clipped over to her junior counsel, who passed her a piece of paper. "Reading over a transcript of the confession, you say, and I quote: 'Using these is the only way to get stuck up bitches like you two under the sheets, and if it's effective in shutting you both up too then so be it! Women like you think you're better than everyone else - well you're not! I have absolutely no regrets for taking your useless, fucked up selves back to my place all those years ago, cos you both got what you deserved! You lead me on! You fucking deserved it!' The 'these' he is referring to are Rohypnol pills, which he brandishes as seen on the CCTV footage. Mr Paxton, are you sure you don't want to admit you've lied now? Admit that Blossom Utonium was not conscious, or consensual, when you had sexual intercourse with her? When you raped her?" Carter declared, and Jeremy raked a trembling hand through his brown hair.

"I have nothing to say." Jeremy said eventually.

"That somehow doesn't surprise me. I'm not done with you yet though. We spoke to Hayley, your sister. She had lots to tell us. She commented on the way Blossom behaved around you. She was scared. And it gave her a sense of deja vu. She'd seen women, or should I say girls, behave in that way before. Does the name Rae Vance mean anything to you, Jeremy Paxton?" Molly asked, folding her arms across her chest.

Jeremy swallowed, looking away, not wanting to say anything.

"Mr. Paxton, you are not going to get through this trial by refusing to speak. Answer the question." The judge reprimanded.

"She's someone I knew a, a long time ago." Jeremy said shakily.

"How did you know her?" Carter pressed.

"She was a friend of my sisters, when they were kids." Jeremy said.

"9 years ago, Hayley Paxton and Rae Vance, along with a third friend, came down to New York to visit you while you performed in a production there, correct?" Carter said, and Jeremy shrugged lightly.

"I think so, I don't remember clearly. It was a long time ago."

"You were all drinking, she was underage. She passed out, and woke up in your bed, her clothes were off and she knew something had happened. Later, the flashbacks followed. No one believed her. She never went to the police. Your family 'lynched her', in the words of Hayley Paxton. She was too afraid to tell any authorities. But we contacted her, she gave us a written testimony, see exhibit h, jury, your honor. The story is very similar. Your sister now thinks you're guilty of raping Rae Vance, and Blossom Utonium. Do you still stand by what you've sworn to on oath? You stand by your insistence, that Blossom was conscious and willing?" Molly Carter asked, and Jeremy, now beginning to sweat, looked down.

"No comment." He mumbled.

"Mr Paxton, if you have lied, now would be a good time to admit to it. Or we will add perjury to your charges, which could give you 3 years in prison on its own." The judge warned.

"You've lied to this courtroom. You've lied to the judge and the jury. You put rohypnol in Blossom Utonium's drink, then you took her home and raped her. Just like you did to Sasha Woods, and Rae Vance. Didn't you?" Carter barked, and suddenly, Jeremy broke down in tears in the stand.

"Yes," He croaked. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it was - I just thought that - I'm so sorry." He sobbed, turning and looking to Blossom, to all the eyes that were on him. He looked directly at Blossom as he spoke. "I'm sorry."

Blossom watched him, her expression uneasy and numb. She didn't feel sorry for him, she didn't really feel anything in that moment. He was finally seeing himself for the monster he really was. And it wasn't pretty to witness, especially when you were someone who had been wronged by the monster.

"No more questions." Molly Carter said, taking her seat once again. Hudson put his face in his hands as his client sobbed in the stand. What a disaster.


"I don't understand why it's taking so long. Jeremy admitted it. This should have taken minutes to agree on." Bubbles pondered as the six of them sat in a lobby by the courtroom. The jury was deliberating, and it had been two hours so far. It had been a long day, it was now almost 6pm.

Buttercup was on the phone with the Professor, filling him in and checking in on all the kids.

Blossom just kept glancing at the courtroom door, her foot tapping against the ground repeatedly through nerves. "I guess these things can take time sometimes. Maybe they have certain procedures they have to follow. They normally have to be unanimous too, remember."

"How could they not all agree he's guilty though?!" Boomer cried incredulously.

"They will." Bubbles replied confidently. Blossom sure hoped so.

Buttercup came back to sit with them, shoving her phone in her pocket.

"Are the kids okay?" Blossom asked, and Buttercup nodded.

"Yeah, Professor said they're doing fine. Think Jay is itching to come home though." Buttercup said with a smirk. "Probably fed up of being dog piled by baby cousins all day long."

"The ladies love him." Butch smirked.

"He might have another baby boy cousin in here." Bubbles said, patting her still flat tummy.

"He does." Boomer said confidently and Bubbles smiled at him.

"Blossom?"

Blossom looked up rapidly at the sound of a familiar voice, and saw Sasha rushing towards her.

"Sasha!" Blossom cried, getting up as well and throwing her arms around her. Sasha held her back tightly.

"Are you okay?" Blossom murmured into Sasha's shoulder as they held each other. Sasha nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. Are you?" Sasha replied, holding her at arm's length.

"Yeah. I think so. I feel really weird. Numb, again. Like I'm watching all this happen, like I watched everything else -" She paused, glancing over to the others, who were all watching the exchange. "Oh! Sorry, guys this is Sasha. Sasha, this is everyone! My sisters, Bubbles and Buttercup, and their husband/partner Boomer and Butch." Blossom said, as Sasha shook their hands.

"Hi, nice to meet you all." Sasha mumbled, not as cock sure as she usually was - she was feeling pretty tense right now.

"And you've met Brick before." Blossom said as Brick nodded at her.

"Hey man. So, how are you all holding up?" Sasha asked. "And how did it go?"

"We're okay. We're doing okay. It was tough. But we knew it would be. How did it go for you?" Blossom replied.

"Erm. Not great. He just lied. He lied through his fucking teeth. And he didn't give a shit about doing it either. It's different for us. You're Blossom Utonium. The fucking Powerpuff girl. I'm nobody." Sasha said, and Blossom squeezed her hand gently.

"You're not nobody." She told her. "You're Sasha Woods. And we wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you. You matter just as much as I do, and you didn't deserve it to happen just as much as I didn't. He lied throughout our trial too, until the end, anyway. He just crumbled. He crumbled and admitted it."

"No fucking way?! Seriously?!" Sasha cried, and Blossom nodded. "How did that feel? Getting to see that?" Sasha asked her, and Blossom shrugged lightly.

"I don't know. I don't really feel anything right now. Apart from maybe nauseous. I just want to go home, and none of it happened, and it's all over and done with." Blossom murmured, and Brick took a hold of her hand gently.

"I know. Me too. Hopefully, they'll find him guilty, and they'll sentence him right here and now and then, well, it would have still happened but hopefully we'll have some closure." Sasha said, but she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself this would be the case.

"They're back." Molly Carter's junior had popped her head around the corner. Blossom felt her blood run cold as she realised what she'd said.

"Seriously? Already?" Blossom cried.

"Two hours." Butch reminded her, but she ignored him.

"I thought it would take longer." Blossom murmured as they all got to their feet. She said goodbye to Sasha briefly and followed the junior counsel inside.

Blossom glanced at Jeremy as she sat with her lawyer and her junior; the others took a seat in the viewing area. He was stood by Hudson, his face red and blotchy still from his breakdown. Suddenly, for the first time, she pitied him. He had completely ruined his life, as well as a handful of others to some extent, and he'd only just realised it. Whether or not he went to jail now, she knew that realisation would eat him alive. At least she hoped it would anyway.

The judge's clerk rose from his seat and cleared his throat. The lead member of the jury stood too, and Blossom inhaled sharply.

"Members of the jury, do you find the defendant Jeremy Michael Paxton guilty, or not guilty?" The clerk asked.

The lead member of the jury swallowed before answering. "Guilty. On all counts." She answered clearly, and Blossom's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull.

Her sisters and the others had begun to make noises of delight, so much so the judge was banging her gavel loudly to quieten them.

"Order please." She commanded.

"Guilty! He's guilty!" Bubbles whispered excitedly, reaching over for Blossom to try and gauge some reaction from her sister, but Blossom was just shocked.

"Jeremy Paxton, you are found guilty of the rape of Blossom Utonium. Your crimes are despicable, and you've convinced yourself over the years that the stories to cover your actions up were true. You are charged with rape, sexual harassment and possession of rohypnol. Your sentencing hearing will commence within a fortnight." She banged her gavel as the police officers began to cuff Jeremy again to take him away. "I hope you can find remorse and forgiveness for your heinous actions in prison. Take him away."

Jeremy sobbed as he was dragged away. And Blossom, still in shock, felt a weight lift off her chest as she watched him go.


"Bloss? You did hear, right? It's good news. He's going to prison! Likely for a long time." Brick exclaimed as they slowly exited Townsville Courthouse.

"I know, I heard. I just, I'm shocked. I don't know why but I wasn't expecting it to go that way." Blossom murmured as they approached their car.

"Of course it did. He all but confessed. It's over now. He's never coming near you again." Brick assured her.

"I know." She mumbled back. Brick couldn't understand why she wasn't jumping for joy. Sasha had been.

"Blossom!"

They both turned to see Sasha running towards them.

"Sash-" Blossom was interrupted by Sasha bundling into her with open arms and hugging her tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Guilty! Can you believe it?! That would have never happened without you. He's gone! We're free! You can go to work without worrying about him! We can move on!" Sasha cried, and Blossom finally smiled.

"Yeah. You're right. Closure, huh?"

"Exactly. I feel so much better. Like a huge weight's been lifted off my chest." Sasha said, glancing at the ground awkwardly. "I called my Mom. She's coming to pick me up. I'm gunna explain, I'm gunna explain everything to her."

"Good. She'll want to be there for you Sasha, she'll probably be really upset you didn't let her support you." Blossom commented. Sasha had all but lost contact with her family, she'd pushed everyone away after it had happened. But now she felt ready to let them in and explain.

"Yeah, I know. Thank you so much for everything Blossom. I mean it, you're like, my soul sister or something." Sasha said, and Blossom chuckled.

"You sound like my sister when you say things like that. Bubbles, not Buttercup, for once." Blossom replied. "Stay in touch. I'm only a phone call away."

"I will." Sasha promised, hugging her once again.

"But call me, don't come stalk me at work, okay?" Blossom added with a smile, and Sasha laughed lightly.

"I will, I will! You better get back to your kids. It's been a long day. Look after her Red." Her last comment was aimed at Brick, who rolled his eyes lightly.

"Of course I will." Brick commented, smiling slightly.


Brick exhaled softly as he lay back in his bed. He felt about a tonne lighter. Clearly he hadn't realised how much all of this had been grating on him too, as he also felt the relief everyone else was feeling.

It was over.

Yeah, he understood that Blossom would never forget it, or 'get over it', but he was in jail, he was to be punished for his actions; Blossom had gotten the justice she deserved, finally.

Hopefully, it would help her and improve her mental health immensely.

Blossom padded through to their bedroom, wearing her silk nightgown. The kids were both in bed asleep, it had been a long, but fun day for them with their Grandpa, but they were both glad to be home. She switched the light off as Brick sat up and turned on the bedside lamp, and within seconds they were both lying in bed together.

Brick reached out and held her hand gently. She automatically nuzzled her head into the hollow of his collarbone, and his arms found their way around her.

"I'm actually looking forward to work now." Blossom said quietly, and Brick chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"Good. It's good to have you back."


"Hey," Jay hissed, cocking his head back at his mother, who was in the kitchen fixing herself a drink. "What's up with Ma? I thought it was good news? He's in jail ain't he?"

Butch, who was sprawled on the sofa, completely beat from the long day, sighed as he ran a hand through his jagged black hair. "I got called to the stand." Butch replied in a murmur.

"What? Why?" Jay asked, confused, and Butch shushed him as Buttercup returned to the lounge with her drink.

"I'm gunna hit the hay." She said simply, hovering up the stairs. Both Butch and Jay wished her goodnight as she disappeared.

"Why?" Jay asked again after hearing the door to his parents bedroom shutting. "What did you do?"

It wasn't so much what he did, but who, Butch thought dryly. "His lawyer was just prying. Pulling at strings, trying to turn it on me and your uncles somehow. It didn't work though." Butch said, not really wanting to talk to his son about the ins and outs of it all.

"Did they talk about you and Aunt Blossom? Is that what it is?" Jay asked, and Butch gave him a startled look.

"You, you know about that?" He cried, immediately feeling a sense of shame wash over him.

"Of course I do. You announced it at Thanksgiving dinner, remember, like an asshole?" Jay replied casually.

"Oh yeah." Butch mumbled. He'd been so wrapped up in his anger at the time, he hadn't even thought about his 8 year old son, sat a few seats down, listening to every word as he disclosed the fact he'd been sleeping with his mother's sister. "Well, I was an asshole."

"Yeah. You got that right." Jay answered, but there was no anger in his voice. "That's probably why Mom's all quiet. She was the same when she found out about it. All, moody. Well, moodier. It obviously makes sense now."

"She's always said she doesn't care about it." Butch said with a light shrug.

"Of course she does. That's her sister. My aunt. I mean, I know you and Ma are tight now and all but, she's not gunna like hearing about it is she?" Jay said, and Butch felt worse, talking about it with Jay. He was 14 and he seemed to know more about it all than him. "Go talk to her."

Butch sighed as he got to his feet. "I will. Now go back to acting like a 14 year old again."


When Butch came upstairs to the bedroom he shared with Buttercup, she was sat in bed, in her usual spaghetti straps and hot pants, and she was skimming a fitness magazine. But he could tell by the crease in her brow and her pursed lips that she wasn't really taking anything in.

He perched on her side of the bed, placing a hand on her leg affectionately. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She muttered, and Butch immediately knew by her tone that she wasn't.

He gave her a doubtful look, and she laid her magazine down on her lap with a sigh. "I dunno, I think it's just hit me." She said, and Butch continued to stroke her leg, letting her go on. They both knew they were talking about his thing with Blossom without even having to bring it up properly. "I didn't think I was bothered by it - I mean, I am, but I didn't think I was really. And I feel so shitty, for feeling so shitty, cos all of that today really had nothing to do with us. I feel like an ass for being bothered by it all."

"Well, you know I'm sorry about it. I mean, it wasn't like we were cheating, or, or anywhere near in love. We were both so screwed up we magnetized toward each other. It wasn't anything -" Buttercup interrupted him.

"I know. I know all that. I kinda thought Brick was being a major drama queen about it all at the time but, I think I convinced myself that's how I felt about it because I was with Mitch and I shouldn't have cared. I didn't want Mitch to know it bothered me. I knew he'd question what that meant, and I didn't even know what that meant. But it did bother me. It did. And it still does." She explained.

There were a few moments where they stared at each other, forest gazing into jade. "BC, what are you saying..?" Butch finally asked, his voice a little apprehensive.

"I'm not saying anything. I mean, look at all we have together now." She reached forward, grabbing his hand on her leg and giving it a squeeze. "I know that, you know, things are different now and stuff, and given that, it shouldn't matter at all. I just, I'm just - I dunno. It's weird. And it's always gunna be there."

Another short silence ensued. Butch wasn't sure what to say. But she was still clutching his hand.

"You must have really thought we were over to have slept with my sister, huh?" Buttercup asked suddenly, and Butch felt his eyes widen in surprise.

"Err, yeah! Buttercup you were with Mitch for almost 9 years! You raised my own son with him over me - you allowed other people to assume Mitch was his Dad! Of course I thought we were truly over! If I'd have had even an inkling that we'd end up how we are now back then, there's no way any of it would have happened." Butch cried. Buttercup's brow had furrowed slightly at the mention of raising Jay with Mitch, but she brushed it off at the rest of his words.

"I guess I'm just gunna have to cling to that, then." She murmured. "We've both fucked up several times over the years. I mean, this is genuinely the longest streak we've both been on the up."

Butch laughed, leaning forward and clutching her face in his hands and planting a kiss onto her lips.

She kissed him back, pulling away slightly to talk to him. "Seriously, our kids have like zero hope -"

He stopped her mid sentence by kissing her again.


r&r (: