I just wanna start by apologising for the radio silence. I've been so burnt out. But I miss writing so much.. I used to write SOMETHING every day; I can't remember the last time I wrote something now.. I've been sitting on this chapter for a couple of months, telling myself I won't post it until chapter 12 is finished. I've decided to post it in the hopes that it might jolt me into writing a little something each day..

So yeah.. I hope you all like it. Also, if you're a greens lover, this ones for you..


To justify/How you feel inside/


When Jay Utonium climbed out of his family's large SUV, the first thing he noticed was the weathered looking station wagon that belonged to his Grandpa parked beside them. He'd had that car all his life; he wondered if he'd ever get anything new.

The entire trunk and backseats of the car were full to the brim with items - but what the items were was unclear, they were covered by a series of large blankets. One corner of a tartan blanket had fallen down slightly, revealing a wrapped present underneath; the young teenager smirked.

"So, do Grandpa and Grandma bring all the Christmas presents to the cabin in their car every year?" Jay asked his parents, who were unclipping his sisters from their car seats.

"Shhh!" Buttercup hissed at him, looking at Ivy and Olive pointedly, the former in her arms, latter by her feet. Butch had Emerald in his arms and hovered around to their side of the car.

"How did I never notice that?" Jay asked and Buttercup shook her head at him.

"Grandpa doesn't bring the presents, Santa does." She insisted, looking down at her daughters, who looked mystified by the idea.

"I'm 14, Ma." Jay replied simply. "Almost 15."

"And they're 2, almost 3." She reminded him. "Help your father with the bags will ya?"

"I feel a little cheated." Jay murmured as Buttercup, Ivy and Olive headed for the entrance to the Professor and Kelly's cabin. Butch was grabbing their cases from the trunk, whilst trying to keep Emerald in his arms simultaneously.

"Getting older sucks, don't it?" Butch muttered, and Jay wordlessly agreed as he helped grab some of their luggage.

The green family had just arrived at the Professor and Kelly's large cabin in Salt Lake City; it was Christmas Eve and there was lots to do inside to prep for the following days festivities.

Buttercup, Butch and co were the last ones to arrive; their siblings and their families were inside already, the tree was up and being decorated and the Professor and Kelly were in the kitchen filling the cupboards with the groceries they'd brought prior for the duration of the day.

They were greeted warmly by their family as they entered the cabin. Emerald, Ivy and Olive swarmed the living room - and promptly began to dominate the TV and 'help' with decorating the tree.

It was safe to say that Christmas plus seven overexcited children with super powers got chaotic.

But chaos reigned supreme in the Utonium/Jojo family - Christmas or no Christmas.


An hour or so later, everyone was settled in and finishing touches were being made to the tree. Blossom had made hot cocoa for the kids, and Buttercup had opened the bottle of spiced rum she'd been saving for Christmas. Everyone was gathered in the large living area; the fire was lit, Christmas tunes were playing and bedtime was getting closer for the little ones.

Bubbles sipped her hot cocoa and looked on, trying to shift the hollow feeling she could feel beginning to seize hold of her slowly. She was trying, she really was. But it wasn't easy to not feel swallowed whole by the seemingly unending heartbreak losing a baby brought you.

In the weeks that had passed, it had gotten easier, it had; she couldn't act like it hadn't. But it was still there. It had still happened. Some days she still felt like she was processing it - some days she forgot. But then a stark reminder would hit her and the feelings would flood back to her like an all consuming tidal wave.

It was difficult to deal with. And right now, on Christmas Eve, surrounded by her family in her father's beautiful log cabin, she knew she should have been sitting with a wide grin, sipping her hot cocoa happily and basking in that merry feeling. But the cold, gripping emptiness was hard to push away sometimes.

Boomer, who was standing before the Christmas tree, helping Bridget and Bonnie hook on the final few decorations, had glanced over at his wife and noted her void looking expression. He was beginning to get good at identifying when she was feeling particularly blue - no pun intended.

He could see right now was one of those moments. Bridget was hovering by his chest; he gripped her by the waist and placed her right up on the top of the tree. She squealed at the action, balancing herself on top of the already positioned star awkwardly.

"Daddy! What are you -" She exclaimed until her father cut her off.

"Hey Mommy look - look at this perfect little Angel on top of our tree." Boomer called over to Bubbles, who looked up at the sound of her husband's voice; a smile immediately gracing her lips.

Catching on to the joke, Bridget posed with her hands in prayer and made herself look as poised and angelic as possible until she'd elicited an acceptable amount of laughs from her family - or at least made her mother giggle, which she did.

"Oh my gosh she's the most perfect angel." Bubbles gushed as Bridget giggled now and hopped off the star, straightening it out before flying into her Mom's lap. "Ooh watch my cocoa!"

Bridget took her cocoa mug and brought it to her lips, taking a sip. "Oooh yummy - can I have some?"

Bubbles smiled warmly. "Sure - come on we'll get you a mug. Have you all picked what you're leaving out for Santa tonight?"

The blonde puff had gotten to her feet, her youngest daughter hovering behind her. Boomer sighed with relief, glad to see her smiling and hoping he could keep her spirits up so she'd find Christmas as enjoyable as she usually did.

"Grandpa and Grandma brought the Christmas cookies we made at theirs the other day over - we should leave him one of them!" Bridget proposed to her mother and cousins, who nodded back in approval.

"And a glass of milk." Bonnie suggested.

"I dunno, I think Santa prefers a glass of whisky, or maybe rum." Buttercup interjected, eliciting a smirk from Bubbles.

The blonde puffruff considered this. "We'll leave him both."

"We gotta put carrots out for the reindeer too." Rosalie added. "But there are nine reindeers so we need to leave out nine carrots, okay? Not just one - it isn't fair." The young puffruff said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Nine carrots? You wanna leave nine carrots out?" Butch reiterated, and the young girl nodded at her uncle.

"Making nine reindeers share one carrot, when they're doing so much work - it's inhumane!" She insisted.

Brick shrugged at his brother. "She won't budge on it."

"Nine carrots it is." Butch murmured with a smirk.

"Nine carrots, Christmas cookies, milk and whisky - Santa and his reindeer sure are lucky this year." Bubbles commented as she poured some hot cocoa into a mug from the pot on the stove.

"It's pretty low payment for 24 hours straight of work." Blake muttered idly from the sofa. "Being paid in cookies and alcohol seems pretty inhumane to me too."

Rosalie blinked at her brother's words, before turning to her father. "Maybe you should leave him some cash too, Daddy. Does $50 seem fair?"

Brick scoffed at the suggestion. "I think Christmas costs me enough as it is." He murmured in reply, as Blossom slapped him on the arm lightly as she passed him.

"Santa doesn't need money, sweetie." The pink puff assured her daughter, scooping down low to pick her up and snuggle her into her arms. "Seeing happy children all over the world is payment enough for him. And the cookies and yummy drinks are just an added bonus."

But Rosalie didn't look convinced. "Santa sounds like a chump to me."


Buttercup hovered down the wooden stairs with a stretch and a yawn. "They're finally asleep." She murmured as she floated through to the living room. She'd been sitting in the hallway so she was close by to put Ivy, Olive or Emerald (or all three) back into bed when they inevitably got up and snuck out - which they did countless times before they fell asleep.

The cabin was a five bed, with an annex on the back. The Professor and Kelly stayed in the annex, leaving the five bedrooms in the main cabin for his daughters and their extended families. The puffs and ruffs shared double rooms each, Blake and Jay shared a twin room, and Bonnie, Bridget, Rosalie and the triplets shared the remaining bedroom, which had two full beds in it for them all to share between them.

Rosalie, Bonnie and Bridget had settled much quicker than the triplets, meaning Buttercup had been up there the longest getting them back into bed until they finally drifted off. Blake however had settled to sleep pretty quickly after a read of his book - and Jay was still up, not really having a set bedtime anymore.

"They must be so excited for the morning." Kelly replied, sitting beside her husband on the sofa as they watched Christmas TV.

"So excited - this is the first year they've had a proper grasp of what's going on, so I knew they'd be mega hyped." Buttercup replied as Bubbles smiled warmly at her sister.

"I can't wait to see all their little faces in the morning." The blonde replied.

"It's a definite highlight of parenthood. Even now I miss you girls' delighted faces upon seeing all the presents under the tree." The Professor said wistfully. "At least I get to watch my grandchildren's world's light up Christmas morning every other year."

"The year's at the cabin are certainly the best ones." Blossom agreed.

"Where are the boys?" Buttercup questioned, noting Butch, his brothers and her son weren't sitting in the living area.

"Playing pool in the game room I think." The Professor answered. "They said they'd be through in a little while to give a hand playing Santa."

Buttercup hovered through anyway, mostly to let Butch know the girls were settled and asleep - little did he know if they woke up again it was his turn to deal with them. She'd done her fair share.

"The girls are asleep - finally. Took fucking ages - what is wrong with you guys, why do you look so suspish?" The green puff commented, noting the guilty looking expressions on all four of their faces.

"Nothing, we're just.. Playing pool. The girls are sleeping? That's awesome - you're an absolute doll getting them to sleep in less than an hour on Christmas Eve." Butch commented, approaching her smoothly and pushing a strand of black hair from her face as she eyed him speculatively.

She cranked a brow at him. "What is going on, what are you -" Her green eyes had scanned to her son, who looked the most sheepish of them all. They followed from him to the half a dozen or so glasses of drinks lined up on the table by the pool table. "Are you letting him drink?"

"No." Butch answered way too quickly. Jay swallowed hard; Buttercup heard it. She cast Butch a doubtful look. "He's almost 15! And it's only a little bit! It's not like he's hammered, he's just had a taste of a couple that's all!"

"Whisky is disgusting." Jay cried as Buttercup folded her arms across her chest, unimpressed. Boomer and Brick tried to look like they hadn't been complicit in the underage drinking. "And gin is even worse! The rum is nice though."

"You let him drink my rum!" Buttercup cried, more annoyed by that then the letting-a-minor-drink-alcohol.

"Our rum!" Butch corrected her. "He just had a bit. He didn't even like much of it… Surely he's less likely to go lay in a field with his friends binge drinking stolen alcohol if he's had a try of some with adult supervision?"

"Dad's right. I have zero desires to go die of alcohol poisoning in a field with my friends now. All thanks to him. That's top Dad-ing if you ask me." Jay said, picking up the glass of rum and going to take a sip, until Butch grabbed it from him and downed the rest, flashing his partner an innocent smile.

"No more alcohol. You're 14." Buttercup said clearly, no room for arguing in her voice.

"It's Christmas, Ma!"

"Well Merry Christmas - no alcohol." She said with a smile. "Especially not my spiced rum I fucking saved for Christmas!" She'd flashed a look of aggravation at Butch then, who cringed.

"A teeny, tiny bit - he had a tiny bit. There's loads left." Butch tried to cajole.

"Hey look - it's snowing." Boomer spoke, successfully distracting the two brunettes from their brewing argument.

"Oh shit it is - it's really coming down too." Jay murmured as they all turned towards the window.

Butch linked his arm around Buttercup's waist, and pulled her close against him. "Don't be mad at me, it's Christmas."

"Go get me a rum and coke on the rocks and all is well." She told him flatly. "And make it a large one." He kissed her on the side of the neck.

"Your wish is my command." He purred, before turning towards the kitchen, but not before Jay turned and saw them embracing, prompting pretend vomiting noises from the young teen.

"You keep drinking alcohol you'll be doing that for real." Buttercup warned him; he rolled his eyes.

"Dad said him and his brothers tried alcohol at my age." Jay mumbled; causing both Brick and Boomer to look mildly disgruntled. "More than once too. And they're all doing okay."

"Dude, not cool!" Boomer cried; the teen smirked at his uncle.

"Well maybe your father and his brothers aren't the best of role models." The green puff muttered, giving both Brick and Boomer irritable looks.

"That goes without saying." Brick replied dryly.


"This is an obscene amount of presents." Blossom murmured, sitting back on her calves, her hands resting on her hips as she surveyed the large amount of presents under the tree. The present piles completely dwarfed the tree now; it almost looked silly.

Bubbles' brow furrowed as she looked at it too, smiling lightly. "Well, it is for eight children.. Sixteen people in total." The blonde puff attempted to defend.

"I guess so." Blossom agreed, getting to her feet.

"Every year I forget how exhausting Christmas Eve is," The blonde puff said, looking over at the time. "I mean look, it's almost midnight already."

"It's nowhere near as exhausting as Christmas at the hospital." Blossom replied as Brick ducked his head down to nuzzle against her shoulder, pulling his fiance close to him. "I'm so lucky they let me have it off this year."

"You worked it the past two years in a row, it's only fair." Brick reminded her.

"Well, we better hit the hay, I imagine the youngsters will be up and eager in a matter of hours." Kelly proposed, as herself and the Professor got to their feet.

Boomer nodded. "Yeah - last year Bonnie was trying to go down to open presents at 4am. Which is in like 4 hours time. We better get to bed too." His last comment was aimed at his wife, who nodded with a small smile.

"We should get to bed as well. Blake will likely sleep in but there's no way Rosalie will lay in." Blossom pointed out, to which Brick agreed.

They bid everyone goodnight before heading off to their rooms, leaving just Butch, Buttercup and their son.

"You wanna head to bed, or do you fancy a nightcap?" Butch asked, holding the bottle of Buttercup's precious spiced rum up as he stood in front of the liquor cabinet.

"I won't say no." Buttercup said as she sat down in the middle of the large sofa, careful to dodge presents as she did so.

"Me neither." Jay answered, sitting down next to her. Butch chuckled as Buttercup shook her head at the teen.

"I don't think so. You should get to bed too. You should have gone up ages ago. Being down here while we lay out the presents, it ruins the magic." She commented; Jay rolled his eyes.

"Come on Mom, I know Santa's not real. I've known for like, over 4 years now."

"I know I know, but still. I remember when your big green eyes used to light up, as you'd leave a cookie out for Santa." She said with a wistful sigh. "Now you're trying to drink alcohol."

"You mean succeeding at drinking alcohol."

She rolled her eyes now. "Go on, up you go. Go sleep off all the booze." The brunette patted him on the back, guiding him up to his feet.

He sighed exaggeratedly. "I had like a few sips! But fine. I'm tired anyway. G'night."

"Goodnight kid." Butch replied.

"Goodnight my Jayby baby." Buttercup called as he got to the foot of the stairs, pausing rigidly for a few seconds, before sighing and hovering up them; his parents grinning in his wake.

"Aren't teenagers fun." Buttercup commented idly as Butch sat beside her and handed her her drink.

"So fun." He slung his arm around her and pulled her close to him, reaching for the remote to turn the TV over. "Sorry if you feel like I crossed a line or something earlier, letting him try alcohol. But it was really only a little bit - he was just curious. And I'd rather he's trying it with us there to keep an eye on him then with stupid teenagers who don't think shit through."

Buttercup eyed him for a couple of seconds before she answered him. "It's fine really. I just had to seem like it was problematic so he doesn't just think he can drink cos we're both all laidback and cool - and next thing you know he's got an actual problem."

Butch chuckled, nodding. "Good cop/bad cop, huh?"

"Pretty much. I don't mind being the bad cop if it keeps him in line when need be." She shrugged.

"Well, you do do bad pretty good, I gotta say."

She smirked at him as his forest green eyes found the TV once more. A contented little sigh escaped her lips as she watched him, affection swirling in her stomach as she did.

God, did she love him. They'd been through so much, but that had always remained unchanging; she loved him so deeply sometimes she struggled to put it into words. But it was true. She loved him and she always had, even when she'd been with Mitch, those feelings had prevailed. They'd just been shoved aside and forcibly ignored.

It was frustrating to think of the years they'd lost because of this. And not even just time; moments. Moments they should have shared that never were. The green puff tried not to think about it, it made her feel terrible when she did.

Because it had been inherently clear that they should have sorted their shit out and been together. It was strikingly obvious they were meant to be.

The brunette reflected on the recent goings on; the drama with Lonnie and her job, Mitch and Princess becoming problematic about Jay's visiting arrangement, Jay having some issues in school - it all made her see just how good she really had it with Butch.

After their rocky beginnings she'd always been terrified of him continuing his pattern of upping and leaving her. But now? Now, he was her complete rock. And not even just her, he was there for Jay and the triplets - she knew the man would run into an inferno for any of them.

He was her constant. Her other half, her partner - but he was more than that. She glanced down at his hand, his left one, which was resting on his lap and clutching at the remote still, her eyes lingering on the finger beside his littlest finger, noting how it was bare. There should have been a ring on that finger.

They should be married. It suddenly felt really silly that they weren't.

They lived together. Had four children together. They loved each other. They should be married. Why weren't they married? Or at least engaged?

Mitch had asked her to marry him several times - six to be exact. She'd shot him down every time, obviously, and always stated she didn't want to get married, didn't need it, didn't see it as necessary. She knew deep down it was nothing to do with the prospect of marriage itself and everything to do with Mitch being the one asking her to marry him.

She didn't want to marry Mitch. Because she loved Butch. And when it came to the crunch, she knew that, she'd just not wanted to admit it.

Mitch probably knew it too. He'd even said something along those lines when they'd broken up.

Butch had known about Mitch's failed proposals. Did he think she was just dead set against marriage in general? Was that what it was?

Would he have asked her by now if all that with Mitch hadn't have happened?

Or maybe he didn't want to get married. They'd been back together now for over 6 years; nearing 7. But he'd shown no signs of asking her. They'd never even had a conversation about it. He'd never brought it up, but then neither had she.

Butch had had commitment issues in the past - and when she said in the past, she really did mean in the past; we're talking 14 plus years ago. He was committed now, she knew that, and she didn't doubt that at all. He'd more then shown her how committed he was to her and their large family.

He wasn't going anywhere.

Yet they weren't engaged or married.

It didn't have to mean anything. But she wondered. Had she built a rod for her own back, by continuously declaring she wasn't down for marriage when she'd been with Mitch? Or was Butch, at his core, afraid of a commitment of that weight?

Well, there was only one way she'd find out. And she was the one who'd said they should talk more.

She opened her mouth but no words followed; Butch spoke first.

"Fucking hell it is really coming down out there. It never snows this much in Townsville." He patted her on the thigh before approaching the large window in the lounge to look outside at the still heavily falling snow. "Good thing we're here for a few days. Our car is covered."

She huffed lightly, nodding and murmuring a 'mhmm' as a response. After a second or two of deliberation, she got to her feet and followed him over to the window, standing beside him.

He looked down at her standing next to him for a moment; a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Dare you to go out in it."

She cranked a brow and turned to him. "You dare me? What are you, 12?"

"Maybe mentally."

She sighed, trying not to smile as she floated over to the front door, the green ruff eagerly following. Pulling it open, she hovered outside and peered at him through the window, shrugging exaggeratedly. It was freezing out there; she was only in her pyjamas; but at least she could hover so she'd not actually touched any snow with her bare feet.

A menacing look met his eyes and there was a flash of deep green. Buttercup's eyes widened as she instantly knew he was up to something. The next thing she knew he'd charged through the door and leapt on her, the two of them landing in the several inches of snow with a thump.

"Butch! Butch what the fu -" She exclaimed as she recoiled against the snow, laughing loudly. "Oh my god you fucking idiot it is FREEZING!"

She grabbed a handful of snow and launched it at his head, hitting him square in the eye. He yelped, sitting up still straddling her and blindly reaching for a handful himself to throw at her.

The green puff swiped an armful of snow at him, spraying it across him the moment he'd opened his eyes. "Oh, cheap shot!"

She wriggled from beneath him, landing on a fresh, untouched part of snow and grabbing at more handfuls. "You started it."

"I'm gunna finish it too." He grinned, jumping on her once more before she'd even got the chance to hurl her snowballs at him.

"No no - oh my god Butch! It's sooo cold! I'm just in my jammies!" She groaned from beneath him as he laughed.

"Come here," He murmured, hooking his arms around her and pulling her close against his chest. "We better share body heat."

She giggled as his lips met hers. "You're such a -"

"Shh." He said, capturing her lips with his once more. "You're wasting energy."

She laughed against him as he kissed her again, pulling herself as close to him as she could. He was only wearing sweatpants and a shirt himself, and her hands traced along the waistband, creating a different kind of excitement in Butch at the gesture.

He didn't realise she'd scooped another handful of snow up, and promptly shoved it down the waistband of his sweatpants and boxer briefs, making him squeal loudly at the sudden coldness in his undercarriage. "Ahh ahh! Shit! You minx!"

She laughed loudly as he rolled off her, trying to get what snow he could from out of his nether regions. "You're evil as shit."

"Hey," She purred. "You started it."

"You're lucky I love you." He replied, grinning at her as he pulled her closer to him again to kiss her once more.

She chuckled. "I love you too." A short but sweet little silence ensued as they looked at each other, catching their breath from all the playful wrestling. "Butch," She spoke once more, her tone less playful now. He looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"Marry me."

Butch blinked. "Huh?"

She swallowed. "You heard me. I wanna get married. To you. So, what do you say?"

After a few seconds of processing, a slightly disbelieving smile broke out across his face. "I say you've made me the happiest girl in the world."

She cracked a smile, giggling at him. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes." He pulled her closer to him, kissing her passionately, before pulling away to look at her again. "You're not shitting with me, like you legit -"

"Yes - god, why would I joke about that?" She cried, and he shrugged.

"I dunno - I just, you know, wanted to make sure -"

"Butch…"

"Yeah?"

"Can we go inside and warm up? Cos I can't feel my ass anymore, I'm that frozen."

He reached down, cupping her bottom in both his hands. "It's okay, I can."

She whacked him on the arm.


Brick landed on the sofa with a thump, running his hands through his chin length red locks. "Christmas is fucking insane." He grumbled as Blossom smirked at her husband to be.

"Well, it's over for 365 days now." She assured him, and he grunted in response.

"You love it really." Bubbles chimed in, to which Brick gave her a disgruntled look.

"Oh yeah, nothing gets me more excited than spending 2 hours putting a plastic castle set together only for Blake to play with it for about 5 minutes before going back to his e-reader, and Rosalie to have made a fort with the box that she much prefers to anything she actually got for Christmas." The red ruff replied; eliciting giggles.

"They had a good day, and that's what mostly matters; Christmas is more about them than anything else." Blossom reminded him as he sighed grumpily.

"That's right - although I never tire of new jewellery." Bubbles added, eyeing her new necklace appreciatively as Boomer chuckled at her.

It was the evening of a chaotic Christmas Day; all the kids were in bed - even Jay, he was in the room he was sharing with his younger cousin watching a movie on his new tablet he'd gotten that day. So now the 8 adults were relaxing in the living area, all of them suitably wiped out after a hectic day.

"I love Christmas now - but I gotta admit I am done with taking new toys out of boxes for one day." Butch agreed with his brother. "Those stupid little twisty metal things are such a pain in the ass!"

"Exactly. At least mostly everything's open now, and the day's over for another year." Brick muttered, evoking eye rolls from Bubbles and Blossom.

"Entire year's almost up. Time passes so quickly once you have kids." Boomer added, to which his family nodded.

"It's true - you girls are the same age I was when you were created; it's pretty mind boggling for me." The Professor said, his eyes crinkling with warm memories.

"It'll be another big year next year though!" Kelly piped up. "What with a wedding and all to look forward to!"

Butch and Buttercup glanced at each other momentarily; they'd not told anyone about their engagement the day previous. Buttercup wanted a ring on her finger before they started telling people - and she was unsure when they'd be able to afford that with a tight Christmas just passing. Plus, she was trying to avoid the inevitable fuss everyone (Bubbles) would make.

They both promptly realised Kelly was referring to Blossom and Brick, sighing lightly as they did.

"I'm assuming it's going to be next year anyway - or do we have another several years wait this time?" Kelly added a little snidely. Brick frowned and Blossom forced a smile onto her face as she shook her head.

"No no, it'll definitely be next year." She assured her step mother.

"Yeah, as soon as possible really. We're not waiting around this time." Brick said, sending a sincere smile his fiance's way.

"Ooh it's so exciting! I do love a wedding - Bubbles' and Boomer's was so beautiful!" Kelly cried, before getting to her feet. "That reminds me - I've got a couple of catalogues in my bag from a friend who's daughter recently got married - I brought them along with me for you to look through. I've earmarked a couple of pages with dresses I think you'll like in them."

"Oh, that's great, thank you Kelly." Blossom forced her voice to be as humble as possible as Kelly dashed off to get the magazines.

The Professor chuckled. "As you can see, she's very excited."

"Yes, she really is, isn't she… I've not even looked at any dresses myself yet." Blossom mumbled, beginning to feel like she should have done more than she had.

"Have you chosen a date yet?" Bubbles asked, and they both shook their heads.

"No, not yet…"

"But, we will. We'll get it sorted." Brick assured them, but mostly Blossom.

"Well, you better get something sorted soon if you want somewhere super nice like the Murmount Hotel. We had to book it like 8 months in advance to secure it." Bubbles told them casually, evoking looks of surprise in the redheads.

"8 months?!" Brick cried.

Bubbles nodded. "The deposit was not cheap either."

"Whole wedding wasn't." Boomer muttered, and Bubbles flashed him an irritable look.

"Weddings are expensive, it's just how it is." The blonde dismissed him with a shrug.

Buttercup heard Butch audibly swallow beside her. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. Their wedding didn't need to be anywhere near as extravagant as Bubbles' and Boomer's had been.

"They don't have to be." Blossom muttered, her words unknowingly providing both Butch and Buttercup comfort. "I'm not sure I want somewhere as fancy as the Murmount."

"Oh why not? Didn't you like it? It's so pretty and swanky!" Bubbles moaned.

"Oh it was lovely - but you had no children when you got married - and you also don't have Rosalie as a daughter." Blossom said bluntly; Brick smirked beside her. "The thought of her in a place like that gives me palpitations just imagining it."

"Yeah, that's a good point…" Bubbles giggled.

"We'll find somewhere. And pick a date. We've got time." Brick murmured, kissing Blossom's cheek. The pink puff nodded; Kelly returned to the living area, handing Blossom two or three wedding catalogues that looked quite outdated. But Blossom smiled pleasantly and thanked her; there may have been something she liked in there after all.

"I don't want a wedding like Bubbles' and Boomer's." Buttercup said quietly to Butch.

She felt him relax beside her. "Thank fuck. We can't afford a wedding like there's."

She smiled. "I wouldn't want it if we could.. Something small. Something simple. Something… Us. And if it's cheap too, that's always a bonus."

Butch smirked, sighing in relief. "You couldn't get more perfect for me."


After slipping his shoes on as quietly as he possibly could, and scribbling out a quick note on a scrap bit of newspaper (he couldn't find any actual paper), Butch slipped through his and Buttercup's bedroom door and made his way towards the room Blossom and Brick were sleeping in as silently as he possibly could.

When he arrived at their door, he knocked on it lightly, and waited for a response, but nothing came.

He knocked again, and heard Blossom softly moan a 'come in' from inside. He let himself in quietly.

"Brick," Butch whispered, nudging his brother, who was a smattering of red hair peaking out of the covers on his pillow. Brick swatted at his hand but didn't do anything else in response. "Brick. Dude - can I borrow some cash? Things have been pretty tight this month… Buttercup being the bacon bringer and getting suspended.. And then Christmas and, you know, a whole tribe of children to buy shit for… We could just do with a little boost. I'll pay it back, when I can, I -"

"Stop talking." Brick murmured, still unmoving and not properly awake. "Yes, you can 'borrow' some cash. How much do you need?"

"I dunno, a few hundred? However generous you're feeling, really…" He muttered, feeling awkward suddenly. He had no qualms going to Brick for help - he knew he'd help; Buttercup was the proud one of the two of them, asking for handouts didn't bother him too much. But right now, knowing the main thing he wanted the money for, he wished he had the ability to buy it with his own money.

"Define a few?"

"$500, maybe?"

"Jeez, you owe a dealer or something?" Brick grunted, turning in bed to look at his brother, who smirked.

"Bro, those days are over. I don't need it to pay a dealer - I need to pay bills. And get something important for Buttercup..." Butch explained.

"Fine, fine - whatever. Just - my wallet's on the dresser. Take my credit card. Go to an ATM. We both know you know the pin. But remember I can see what you've spent or withdrawn." Brick warned him, and Butch nodded, grabbing at his brother's wallet and locating the credit card he was referring to - yes he knew which one it was.

"Brick - thank you. You're a gem. Oh and also -"

"WHAT?" Brick growled, just wanting to get back to sleep - it was a wonder the kids weren't already up and demanding more toys be taken out of packaging.

"Can I borrow your wife to be?"

A small silence ensued. "Those days are over too Butch." Brick grunted.

Blossom wordlessly reached over and hit Brick on the arm.

Butch smirked. "No, not like that! I need some feminine expertise."

Blossom had turned over in Butch's direction now, pulling the covers up with her as she did, her interest was piqued. "Feminine expertise? What are you talking about - and what time is it?"

"I'm going to propose to Buttercup, I want some help buying a ring."

Blossom sat up in bed rapidly. "Really?!"

"Uh huh. There's a main street not far from here, and there's two jewellery stores along it. Would that be cool?" Butch questioned, looking from Blossom to his brother.

"Ask her not me." Brick grunted, turning to get comfy in bed again.

"Pleaseeeee." Butch begged.

Blossom sighed. "Fine. Give me 10 minutes."


Butch squinted down at the array of rings in the window of the jewellers, hoping he found one in one of these stores that he thought Buttercup would like. Blossom stood beside him, pulling her coat around her tighter; it was extremely cold.

"You really should have asked Bubbles about this, it's much more her forte." She commented, trying to not wonder why he had asked her - they didn't talk a whole lot nowadays, and were certainly never alone together often. Not out of mistrust, or even something as silly as 'temptation', both were more than happy with their current situations and the melodramatics of their past were way behind them. It could just be a little awkward sometimes. Not all the time, just sometimes…

She knew Butch felt that way too. She'd felt it in their brief conversations.

"Maybe, but I know you a bit better." Butch replied, still peering down at the window. She didn't respond, so he turned to look at her, noting she'd cranked an unimpressed brow at him. "Come on, I don't mean like that! I just mean, I feel like you'd be more helpful to me. Bubbles would have picked something: A. super expensive, and B. a lot girlier than Buttercup would appreciate. You're less into fashion like Buttercup, so it just seemed a wiser choice. Plus, Bubbles likes her sleep, she'd have probably said no till like, gone 11am. I knew you'd get up to help me."

She contemplated his answer for a moment, it had stumped her a bit. "Well, I guess on that logic…" Her sentence trailed off as the pink puff bent down beside him, peering into the window. "Silver or gold? White gold? Rose gold?"

"All her other jewellery is silver." He muttered. "None of these are… Buttercup enough."

"What stone were you thinking? Diamond?" Blossom questioned as he wandered over to the window on the opposite side of the door, spluttering slightly.

"Maybe a small one. I don't exactly have the grandest of budgets..."

"Well, if it's any consolation, I don't think Buttercup would appreciate a super fancy, expensive ring. In fact, I think splashing out on something horrendously lavish would be a little lost on her." Blossom pondered as she followed him over to the other window. "There are plenty of gems that aren't diamonds that are also beautiful."

He pointed down to a row of jewellery down at the bottom. "Are those emeralds?"

She crouched down to peer closer. "They look like emeralds… Yes, emerald. That one at the bottom is really pretty. C7." She read off the number beneath it. "An emerald ring would be quite fitting. Seeing as you have your very own Emerald."

His eyes had been drawn to the same ring. But then his eyes found the price tag and he halted. "Everything about it is perfect - except the price tag. Fuck."

Blossom frowned. It was $550. "Over your budget?"

"Well, it's kinda your budget. This is on you and Brick until I can pay it back…"

"Do you want to get her that one?" She asked, and he shrugged.

"It's perfect, but it'll have to wait. Maybe I should look around a little more.. Money's pretty tight and all right now.. I just wanted to get her one today, because she proposed to me Christmas Eve. And I want to ask her properly… With a ring." He muttered, his forest green eyes still glued to the silver emerald ring in the window, with swirly celtic knots beside the vibrant stone.

"Brick okay-ed you borrowing some money right? So, if that's the one - get that one."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. You'll pay us back when you can. And Buttercup deserves a beautiful ring - you got her pregnant with triplets." Blossom said flatly, and he smirked.

"She does deserve it. Thank you, Bloss. I promise I'll pay it back - like I actually will. Not like when I say I will but have no intention of doing so - I want to have bought her this, not you and Brick. "

She found herself smiling at his honesty. "Don't mention it - so do you know what size she wears?" Blossom asked, and watched his face fall.

"Fuck."

"You don't know her ring size?!"

"I didn't think! Shit -" He yanked his hands through his unruly hair. The redhead covered her face in her hands. "Fuck - what do I do?"

"We'll get them to measure my ring - and go for a similar size. And then you can always get it resized if it doesn't fit…"

His brow had furrowed at the prospect of having to pay to get it resized; she flashed him an exasperated look. "It's that or leave it all together!"

"No no - we'll do that. You're right, we'll do that. Come on," He said, holding the door open for her. "Let's get a look at it."

The store was empty when they entered, much to Butch's annoyance; an older woman had been standing in there when they'd been perusing the jewellery in the windows. Now they needed her help she'd disappeared.

Blossom had approached the counter anyway, picking up the ring sizing cone that was on the side and placing her own engagement ring in it to gauge its size. "Mine's a 5. Go with that, I feel like our hands are probably the same size."

"Okay." Butch said, standing beside her and pressing the bell repeatedly to try and get the store clerk to come back and serve them; Blossom hissed at him to stop being so impatient. After a couple of minutes, she appeared, and Butch asked to see ring C7 from the window in a size 5. The woman disappeared once more then came back with said ring for Butch to take a closer look at.

"It's beautiful. Such a vibrantly coloured stone." Blossom breathed as Butch held it closer for her to see. His stomach had lurched as he held it in his hand; that's how he knew it was the one. The one he'd ask her to marry him with; cos he had to ask him herself, regardless of the fact she'd asked him.

"It's a gorgeously cut emerald. You know, I get more and more couples coming in to pick an engagement ring together these days - it's becoming the norm. You can try it on, if you'd like, see how it fits -" The woman began until they both cut her off by gabbling simultaneously.

"Oh no, no we're not -"

"We're not a couple - we're not -"

"He's my brother in law, or will be officially, soon." Blossom said, looking at Butch uncomfortably, who smirked just as awkwardly. "This is for my very lucky sister."

"Ahh. I see - my apologies. I just thought you looked like a cute couple -" The store clerk excused herself.

"Oh we're not - trust me."

"Not at all."

The jeweller looked even more embarrassed/confused, but tried to shake it off. "Well, do you think your other half would like this one?"

"I think it's the one." Butch said, slightly starry eyed as he looked at it.


The dark navy ring box in Butch's coat pocket felt heavy as it knocked against him with every step; why he didn't know. It wasn't like he didn't think she'd say yes - she'd already asked him to marry her herself.

He knew she wanted to marry him, yet he was somehow still nervous to ask her. Which was perhaps why he was walking along the sidewalk rather than flying back to the cabin. To buy himself a little more time to calm his unexplained nerves.

The green ruff turned and looked at the redhead walking beside him; he was glad she'd come with him. Not only for her opinion and her fiance's credit card, but for the fact he'd not even thought about a ring size...! She was pulling her coat around herself tighter, light puff's of cloud-like condensation emitting from her mouth as she breathed, caused by the freezing weather. He linked his arm through hers as they walked, and she looked up at him, slightly startled.

He'd decided the light veil of awkwardness between them needed to end here; she was marrying his brother, he was marrying her sister - everything that happened all those years ago didn't matter anymore, or at least it shouldn't. They were family.

"Thanks for coming with me." He said, and she blinked as they walked, nodding curtly.

"It's fine. You've picked out a really lovely ring. She's going to love it."

"You think?"

"Definitely."

A short silence ensued. "Who'd have thought you'd be helping me do this like 7 years ago huh?"

She rolled her eyes, smirking. "Things were very different 7 years ago. In a completely horrendous and messy way."

"Oh for sure. Absolute car crash of a person." Butch commented and she cranked a brow.

"You or me?"

"Both of us." He answered like it was obvious. She didn't even protest, knowing he was right.

"Well, I suppose I can't argue with that. We were both very -"

"Fucked up?" Butch butt in and she pouted lightly.

"Not the word I would have used but, yes. I guess it fits. At least things are okay now." The redhead murmured, and he nodded in response before a brief moment of silence followed. "They are okay now, right?" Her mind had wondered back to her green eyed sister's expression when her and Butch had been mentioned in court not that long ago and it made her feel sick with guilt suddenly.

"Of course they are - me and BC are gunna get married. And so are you and Brick. It's all good. Why, does it come between you and Brick often?" Butch asked and she shook her head.

"No, not really, not anymore. Obviously initially it did. And it's always going to bug him. If he could make it not have happened he would. But, no. We're at a point of acceptance that it happened. He'll even crack a joke about it every now and then, most likely so he can enjoy watching me go bright red." Blossom replied, and Butch smirked.

"I think it gets to Buttercup more than she lets on. But I don't think it's something that bothers her on a daily basis. I mean it isn't something any of us should be thinking about that often." She shook her head in agreement. "It was so long ago and everything was so different to now back then. I mean, I do get it. I'd HATE knowing Buttercup had slept with Brick or Boomer. I'd hate it. So I do get it - it was weird as fuck really for so many reasons. I still loved Buttercup, and you still loved Brick, yet - what the fuck were we doing?" He spluttered, and she smiled a little mirthlessly.

"I really don't know.. I can barely remember how it began. You're right, it was weird and shouldn't have happened, really. But then, we were also two single adults who made the decision to do that... So on that logic it wasn't exactly wrong… It's a difficult one to justify. But hey, at least we've all survived it."

He nodded. "And things aren't weird, are they?"

"No." She said solidly, patting the arm hooked around hers with her other one. He knew from her tone she wasn't just saying it to appease him. "No, things are fine. Even Buttercup makes the odd joke about it every now and then - things are fine. You're my husband-to-be's brother, my children's Uncle, my soon to be brother in law. Those are the bits to focus on. The other stuff doesn't matter and is unimportant. I've long forgiven you."

He looked at her incredulously. "Forgiven me?! For what, having sex with you?"

"No!" She exclaimed, batting him on the arm. "For being an asshole. Because you have to admit towards the end, you were an asshole."

He shrugged, relenting. "Nah, that's fair. I was. But I've forgiven myself too. And thankfully, so has Buttercup, cos she wants to marry me. Jesus-fucking-Christ, she wants to MARRY me - how'd I get so lucky?"


Buttercup had found Butch's scribbled note about popping out to the closest store, and been momentarily puzzled by it; what the hell had he popped out for? They had so much food in the cabin - she couldn't think of anything they could possibly need.

However she'd not had long to dwell on it. Olive had burst in shortly after she'd woken up demanding breakfast; and Emerald and Ivy hadn't been far behind. So she'd peeled herself from bed, and got them all some cereal. The Professor had come through not long after, and offered to clear up and watch the girls so Buttercup could catch some more z's in bed - she'd gladly taken up the offer.

Bubbles and Boomer had gotten up just as she retreated back into her bedroom; Bonnie, Bridget and Rosalie getting up around the same time. Buttercup knew she'd sleep easier knowing the Professor had reinforcements now.

The green puff flopped onto the bed with a sigh, snuggling herself up like she was prepping her very own cocoon. Sleepily, she began to shut her eyes, when she spied something sitting staring at her on the bedside table: a very mauled looking stuffed hedgehog that belonged to Ivy. It was her favourite toy; Buttercup knew she'd be looking for it the moment she realised she didn't have it clutched in her stubby little hand.

With a much less blissed out sigh, she sat up, grabbing the kinda soggy plushie as she did (this thing needed a wash bad, she reminded herself to bribe them all with chocolate or candy so she could put all their most valued possessions on a quick wash once they were home), and got to her feet to take it downstairs. When she pulled their bedroom door open she came face to face with a familiar broad chest that belonged to Butch; he was looking down at her with an almost awe filled expression.

She flashed him a flat look back and held the hedgehog up. "Hey. Ivy left Prickles in here. I can never catch a fucking break - the Professor offered to watch them so I could sleep longer. Where have you been? I woke up and you were gone."

"Fuck Prickles - give it to her later. She'll live." He replied simply, and she rolled her eyes lightly, not being able to hold back her smirk. "I left a note - I just had to pop out. Take the offer of sleep, Ivy will survive without that stinky thing for an hour or so."

"I guess you're right." She said, turning and running her hands through her hair, placing Prickles down on the dresser. Butch came into the room properly, closing the door behind him, his hand in his pocket holding onto the ring. "I did get your note. Where did you go, anyway?"

Her back was turned on him, her hands still resting on her head as she dragged them through her chin length locks. He didn't reply, which confused her. Turning to face him, the look of befuddlement soon fell off her face when she found him down on one knee, presenting a beautiful ring in a velvet box. "What the fuck?!"

"You fucking have to let me ask you." He told her, grinning. "As sexy as it was you asking me, you have to let me ask you."

Her hands went to her mouth; an attempt to hide the huge grin she was sporting.

"Oh my god, you got a ring." She gasped, peering at it a little closer. "Is it an emerald? Aw, we have our own one of them. Oh my god Butch - it's gorgeous! Oh man, I was not expecting this."

"Like I said, you've gotta have a ring. Make it all official and everything." He shrugged, enjoying her face lighting up.

"Well, go on then." She said, not attempting to hide her smile anymore. "Ask me."

"Buttercup Utonium, badass woman of my dreams - will you marry me?" He asked her, and she immediately burst out laughing, nodding.

"Yes I will - which you knew I'd say because I asked you only two days ago. Come here, get up." She said through her laughter, pulling him closer to her; he got to his feet and grabbed her up for an embrace.

She held him back tightly. "You didn't have to rush off and buy a ring… It could have waited." She spoke into his chest. "I mean, it's not like we can afford it right now..."

He shook his head as he pulled back and reached for her left hand. "No, you deserve this. And who cares about money." He took the ring from the box and placed it on her left hand, inhaling as the moment of truth approached as he waited to see if it would fit. It slipped on like a glove. He exhaled in relief. God bless you, Blossom Utonium. "Plus, now we can tell the world we're gunna get hitched."

Buttercup admired the ring on her finger intently. "It's awesome, I love it. Oh shit, yeah, we can tell people now. Bubbles basically screamed an entire restaurant down when Blossom told us her and Brick were engaged again. And it wasn't even the first time they've been engaged. So, when it comes to telling her: not it."

"Shit." Butch hissed, and she laughed, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him down to her height to kiss him firmly on the lips.


Jay Utonium grabbed his overnight bag from the trunk of his family's car, closing it before turning to face his waiting mother.

"You definitely sure you wanna go? Cos you know you don't have to." She asked him. He looked past her and towards Mitch Mitchelson's house.

"No, I wanna go. I've not seen him in ages, and he asked me to come over, so… It'll be fine." The young teenager answered, and Buttercup nodded, rubbing at her arm.

"Okay. Well, just as long as you're happy to stay. You can call me to come home whenever - like I don't care if it's the middle of the night -" She began until he spoke over her.

"I know Mom, I know - don't worry. If I wanna come home, I will. But it'll be fine. I'll be home tomorrow anyway, it's just New Years Eve at his. And it's just me and him - even Princess isn't gunna be there. Mitch said she's made plans with some of her girlfriends or something. He just wants a chill night in and asked if I wanted to join him. And I've not seen him in so long, so I thought I may as well… But if I wanna come home, I know I can and I will." He assured her. She nodded, her lips a thin line.

"Okay. Hey - no alcohol. New Years or no New Years..." She warned him as they made their way up Mitch's front yard towards his front door. He rolled his dark green eyes.

"I'm not gunna! Mitch wouldn't even let me anyway. He's not as cool as Dad is." Jay smirked, and Buttercup now rolled her eyes.

"Don't tell Mitch he let you try alcohol over Christmas." She murmured, ringing the doorbell. "I'll never hear the end of it.. It's nice to hear you calling your Dad, Dad though."

Jay didn't look at her but he nodded. "Well, he is my Dad. And Mitch isn't."

The aforementioned opened the door and greeted them both. The green puff noted how pleased Mitch seemed to see Jay and it made her feel a little better. His call to have Jay round for New Years Eve had been a little out of the blue. They'd not long gotten back from the cabin; maybe all the family time had made the green puff feel extra clingy.

"So I'll see you tomorrow yeah?" Jay said, turning to his mother, who nodded and opened her arms out to give him a hug. Mitch leant against the door frame as he watched them embrace; something on Buttercup's hand had caught his eye.

Jay squeezed her tightly as she buried her head against his chest - he was so much taller than her now, she swore he had shot up overnight sometimes. Butch was 6 foot 3 though; he was bound to be tall like him.

"Love you - have fun!" She called to him as he shrugged his bag onto his back and disappeared inside Mitch's house. She smiled civilly at Mitch. "So, I'll pick him up at 2pm tomorrow?"

"Yeah yeah - are you - are you engaged?!" Mitch spluttered, his eyes finding the ring sitting on her left hand.

She looked down at it, fingering it almost sheepishly. "Oh - err, yeah. I am. Or, we are..."

"Seriously?" He exclaimed, his face a picture of shock. "You - you said yes to him?!"

"I actually asked him, initially. And then he asked me…" She murmured.

"Wow." He scoffed, looking up to the heavens. This prompted some annoyance from her end.

"What?" She bit out, and he shook his head, slightly incredulous.

"You said you never wanted to get married. Said it was just a piece of paper, and it didn't mean anything. I mean, I asked you how many fucking times?" There was a desperate disbelief in his voice that made her irritation dissipate and was replaced by sympathy, and possibly guilt..

"Mitch…" She murmured softly; he shook his head vigorously.

"No, it's fine. It's cool. Doesn't matter." He brushed it off rapidly, attempting a smooth recovery, but blowing it instantly. "But, but - you were dead set against marriage! I mean, what the fuck?"

"Marriage to you, Mitch. I was dead set against that..." She explained lightly. He blinked.

"Right, course. Of course." He stared at her for a moment, his expression a little crushed. It made her feel weird; they'd been broken up a long time now; years. Why was this hitting him so hard? He'd been with someone else for 3 years. It wasn't like they broke up yesterday.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I mean, you're not really right?" He asked her bluntly. "You're not really sorry about it.. Imagine you're pretty happy about it. And it's not like if everything that did happen didn't you'd have ever said yes to me, or, or had any kids with me, is it?"

She swallowed uncomfortably. "No. No, you're right."

"Right. Well. Congrats, I guess." It was very forced.

"Thanks, I guess." She replied, before watching him turn and go inside.


r&r (: