Dragon's Fury
Chapter 9: Growing Pains
"Laura what are you doing here?" Esther demanded.
"What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? What are you doing here?"
"Don't talk back to your mother Laura!", Mark scolded.
Laura's jaw clenched and her fingers curled into a loose fist.
"I'm here visiting William. He's here on a school exchange."
Esther looked shocked, and a little hurt.
"You came all this way to visit him after school has just started yet you rarely come to visit us on the colony?"
Laura frowned and she noticed Auriah's lips pulling back into a half snarl and was even growling quietly. Her Draconian heritage manifested itself whenever she was angry.
Her children loathed visiting the colony. so much so that she would have to drag her normally well behaved children kicking and screaming the whole way.
They never once questioned her why she left it.
Getting back to her mother's question she decided to play one of her stereotype cards.
"Because he's living all by himself and I was worried about him."
She hoped the typical motherly worry would work, she needed to end this conversation as quickly as possible.
In truth though she wasn't worried about him. She made sure during his growing up that he was more than capable of looking after himself.
Esther now really looked hurt.
"Yes I can understand that feeling well."
Laura cursed silently. She knew where this was going and she chided herself for not foreseeing it.
"Mother please not now."
"Well how do you think I felt when you and Naomi ran away!"
Esther's shouting was drawing stares.
"Mother please this is nether the time nor the place."
"Then when will it be time?" Esther cried on the edge of tears.
Laura stepped closer and looked into her mother's eyes firmly.
"When you and father sit down and listen to me without judging me."
"This discussion would have been over years ago if you had just seen Master Jonah when you visited the first time like we said.
Laura shook her head in disappointment.
"You still don't get it."
She sighed and decided to end it right there.
"Girls; in the car."
Her daughters seemed a little reluctant, they were eager to get into a good verbal sparring with their grandparents, which was why they had to leave now.
"You're leaving?" Esther asked her.
"Laura nodded.
"We have nothing more to say."
"Laura please wait! We always end our get-togethers like this. Why can't we ever part on good terms?"
Laura turned back to look at her.
"Because you always talk about the same things." 'Why did I leave?' 'Why do I never visit?' 'Why don't I ever bring my children to the meetings?'"
She shook her head.
"Why don't you try finding out for yourself why we left. The fact that you don't know or even have a clue shoes that you haven't changed. You're still as blind and as lost as you ever were."
"That's why we have master Jonah", Esther said desperately. "He's our shepherd ."
Laura scowled.
"Your shepherd poisons the water, but since you're sheep your oblivious because if un herded you are defenseless and stupid as lemmings."
"That's going much too far Laura!", her father shouted. "You have no right to say that about Master Jonah. He is a great man of God and...
"He is a self serving lecherous cultist!", Laura shouted back. "And until you realize that there's nothing else to discuss, because I've seen real men of God father, and they are much better men than that hack."
Laura swiftly turned away and got in the car. As it sped away Mark and Esther's eyes remained glued to it until it vanished around the corner.
"Oh Mark", Esther sobbed. "What could have happened to her."
Mark put his hands on her shoulders.
"Calm down Esther It's this sinful world on the outside that has made her this way."
"But that can't be what caused her to leave the colony in the first place! It makes no sense."
"Mark thought for a moment.
"Maybe it was someone inside the colony. A loyalist sympathizer maybe."
Esther looked alarmed.
"Oh do you think so? Should we tell Master Jonah?"
Mark held up his hand.
"No, he's busy with other things now and we are only guessing. It's best we wait."
Esther nodded in acknowledgement.
She looked back in the direction Laura had left.
"Oh Laura, Naomi, where did we go wrong?"
Meanwhile in the car Laura was managing to hold back tears as they drove back to their hotel room.
"Are you okay mom?" Maria asked.
She sighed and replied.
"I'm fine dear, just a little stressed that's all."
Another sigh came from the back seat, this time from Elise.
"Should we call Will and tell him?"
Laura thought for a moment then shook her head.
"No he's spending time with Buttercup right now. It's best that he not worry about anything tonight. We'll let him know tomorrow.
She relaxed in her seat.
"Let's just go to the hotel and relax while we still can."
Bunny clicked her teeth as she drove the rental car through the congested streets to the hotel.
'Just when we thought the worst was over.'
Will slowly woke as he realized the breathing he was hearing was not his own.
His eyes opened and right in front of them was Buttercup's porcelain face.
They were both lying on the couch with her on top of him with his arm draped over hr. They had fallen asleep sometime after the movie ended.
The phone ringing suddenly jolted him fully awake and he reached over to pick it up trying not to shift Buttercup's sleeping form in the process.
"Hello?"
"Hello yourself", replied the voice on the other end.
"Guess you two had fun spending the night. Too much fun to call home and say she was spending the night."
Will groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Oh great."
Bunny laughed.
"Yeah you better bring her home soon, her parents have been climbing the walls since last night."
Buttercup began to stir.
"Yeah, okay anything else?"
A sigh came from the other end.
"Yeah your family wasn't to meet you at the hotel. It's important."
Will frowned, he didn't like the worried tone in Bunny's voice.
"Alright, I'll go after breakfast."
Bunny giggled.
"Right, I guess pregnant girls get cranky if they miss any of their eight square meals. Okay we'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Will hung up the phone and sighed.
What was so important that the family needed to talk about?
"Everything okay?" Buttercup asked sleepily.
"Your parents are upset because you stayed over and nobody called."
Buttercup smiled sheepishly.
"I guess we fell asleep before we could even think to call anybody."
Will smirked.
"You probably would have been able to stay awake longer if you didn't expend so much energy digesting pizza."
Buttercup huffed.
"And what's your excuse?"
"You fell asleep on top of me and you were too heavy to move."
"Whack!"
"Ow."
"Just for that you're making breakfast."
He had already been planning on making breakfast but there was no need for her to know now.
"Yes dear, but your still going to have to get off of me."
Despite her playful grin Buttercup slid off of him and onto the other side of the couch.
Will got up and stretched.
"So what do you want for breakfast."
"Pancakes", she answered. "And don't be stingy I want them big."
"Pretty soon that won't be the only thing that's going to be big."
Swiftly Buttercup hurled a couch pillow at him but he already had his hands up to block the anticipated attack.
"Just go and make my breakfast before I find something heavier", she threatened playfully.
"All right, all right."
As Will disappeared into the kitchen Buttercup lay back down on the couch and thought.
"I wonder if this is what marriage is like."
At her own home Mandy was also on her couch, watching T.V with a gallon of ice cream in her lap and a large spoon in her hand, shoveling the soft confectionary into her chocolate lined mouth in an almost delirious state.
She was dimly aware as she lazily watched the television of someone ringing the doorbell.
"It's open", she called in a bored tone.
The door opened and Billy and Grim stepped inside.
"Sufferin Skulls girl! What you doin?"
"Burying my sorrows", she answered glumly.
Irritated Grim went over and snatched the bucket out of her hands.
"Mandy whatever it is that's made you upset you're not going to make things better this way-."
The instant Grim finished his sentence Mandy lunged off the couch and attacked him turning his body into a heap of bones and recovering her bucket of ice cream.
"Never take food from a pregnant girl Grim", Mandy said ominously. "Especially me."
Mercifully she left it at that and returned to her position on the couch eating her ice cream.
Nervously Billy sat on the couch beside her.
She wasn't acting herself, well not like her more recent self. This was more like the old Mandy.
"Is everything okay?"
She gave him a sideways glare.
"Does everything look okay?"
Billy sighed.
"Well what's wrong then?"
Mandy put down spoon and turned her head to face him.
"What's wrong is that my parents are trying to get a restraining order against you and your family."
Billy's eyes widened in horror.
"What?"
"And what's worst they're trying to make me give up the baby."
Billy was completely baffled.
"Why?"
"Because they don't want a baby around! I get the feeling they don't even want me."
Mandy's eyes were tearing up as she looked away from him. She resumed eating her ice cream, inhaling deeply to keep the tears back.
Billy just sat there mulling over all that Mandy had told him. If Mandy's parents succeeded then what were they doing to do?
His thinking was interrupted by a loud hollow clunk. Mandy had dropped her spoon into the now empty ice cream pail.
Billy looked at her and saw that her attempts to hold back her tears had failed as the sorrowful liquid streams ran down her cheeks and erode the chocolate stains on her face.
Tentatively Billy reached over and wrapped his arm around her pulling her close, quietly whispering to her. "It's alright, I'm here for you."
Mandy couldn't say anything, she could only take hold of him and cry on his shoulder.
Billy's heart ached as he heard Mandy's sobs. He felt so helpless, he had no idea what to do.
Grim looked on and felt equally helpless because he didn't think there was anything he could do, but mostly because he was still lying in pieces on the floor.
Buttercup yawned and stretched in the passenger seat of Will's Camaro.
"Thanks for breakfast, the pancakes were terrific."
Will chuckled.
"I figured you liked them after your first dozen."
"Hey a girls gotta eat right?", she said coyly.
Will rolled his eyes.
"I think you're just using the pup as an excuse to stuff your face."
Buttercup reeled in mock offense.
"I'm shocked that you would think that I would take advantage of my child like that."
Will looked at her.
"But it's true isn't it?"
She wacked his arm playfully.
"Just shut up and drive."
"Yes dear."
"And if you're worried about my parents failing into you because you didn't call don't worry, I'll protect you."
Will smiled.
"Thanks but I won't be coming in. My mom needs to talk to me about something urgently."
Buttercup frowned worriedly.
"I hope everything's okay."
He shrugged.
"Guess I'll find out."
The car pulled into the Utonium's driveway and Buttercup unbuckled her seat belt.
"Kay, I guess I'll see you later."
The two shared a quick kiss and then Buttercup exited the car.
As will pulled out of the driveway Buttercup thought about what she would tell her parents. Well, right now just the professor since Margaret was most likely at work.
"Sorry I fell asleep on him so he couldn't reach the phone to..."
It suddenly dawned on her and just as Dragon sped away she whirled around.
"You jerk, you were able to reach the phone the whole time!"
Dragon turned off the street and out of sighed.
"Aaaauuugggh, Men!"
She heard a laugh coming from the house.
"Getting used to the family life I see."
Buttercup grunted.
"If this is family life now I can't imagine what it's going to be like when the pup is born."
Bunny shook her head.
"Don't you think you're over reacting a little? This isn't even the tip of the iceberg you know."
Buttercup sighed as she walked to the house.
"I know, I think I'm just having a mood swing."
Bunny smiled.
"Yeah sounds about right."
Bunny moved to let Buttercup enter first.
"I'm home", Buttercup called out.
The Professor stuck his head out of the kitchen entryway.
"Buttercup? Where have you been?"
Buttercup looked at him strangely.
"Whoa Professor you know where I was. I'm sorry I didn't call but we fell asleep.
The professor walked up to her with his arms crossed.
"That's no excuse Buttercup, your mother and I were worried sick!"
"You were worried for no reason!" Buttercup shouted back. "If you were so worried then why didn't you call us? We didn't see any messages."
"We didn't know the number!", he defended.
"You could have asked me.", Bunny pointed out.
"Regardless", the Professor asserted, trying to regain control of the conversation. "You had many hours to call and tell us you were staying over or you could have asked us to pick you up."
Buttercup put her hands on her hips.
"It's not like we planned on it, and even if I did ask to stay over you wouldn't have let me."
"Of course not. We couldn't let you spend the night alone with a boy you hardly know."
"I'm already pregnant what are you worried about?", she argued. "And what do you mean hardly know?"
"Buttercup you've known him only for two weeks, that's not nearly long enough to get to know somebody."
"Well maybe we don't know each other as much as we should but that's why we had dinner together. We have to spend time together if we're going to get to know each other."
"There's such a thing as spending too much time with someone when you're in this situation Buttercup", the Professor countered. He was really getting fired up now.
"A relationship like the one you have is bound to fail if you move too quickly."
Buttercup's irritation was now turning into anger making Bunny anxious.
"He cares about me!" Buttercup shouted. "And he cares about our pup! We may argue a little bit but that's normal! Do you think he's the kind of guy who would leave his girlfriend and child?"
"Buttercup it happens all the time. Boys leave because they're afraid or they don't want to take responsibility. This situation is even easier for him to that because the baby was just a freak occurrence, he could argue that it's not even his."
Buttercup was frozen for a moment in shock.
"Just a freak accident?"
Bunny's concern morphed into horror as Buttercup's eyes glowed a fiery green.
"He's not a FREAK!"
Buttercup's scream was quickly followed by her green wings bursting ot from her back and her claws popping out.
"Danté isn't some Bastard baby!", she roared at her terrified father. "He's our love child, we made him together! He was not an accident!"
Bunny swiftly moved between the Professor and her enraged sister.
"Buttercup please calm down", she pleaded!
"William and I heard you talking to Blossom the other day. You wanted to spy on him!"
Bunny paused. Though she had suspected it this was the first confirmation that they had been keeping tabs on him.
Buttercup went on.
"You just don't trust him! You probably never even liked him!"
"Of course I don't trust him! What kind of father would trust a non-human fourteen year-old boy with his own daughter? I'm just deciding what's best for you."
Buttercup growled angrily.
"Oh yeah? Well I'm deciding for myself now. I've decided that I do trust him, I've decided that I do want to bear his child, and I've decided I don't need your permission to do any of it."
Now the Professor was angry.
"Young Lady you're living under my roof and as long as you do you will obey my rules."
"You're rules are unfair and stupid!", she yelled.
"Well if you think so then you can leave!"
The house was suddenly very quiet, not even the slightest sound was heard.
Buttercup was completely shaken. Her face was no longer angry, but hurt.
"You want me to leave?", she asked in a quiet voice.
"Of course I don't", the Professor said. "But if you're so sure you're mature enough to make your own decisions and live with the consequences then prove it now."
Buttercup hung her head then slowly and carefully retracted her wings and claws. She still wasn't used to the muscle controls so she was still rather clumsy with the movements.
Without looking up she walked towards the flight of stairs to the second floor but as she passed the Professor she paused and looked up at him with tear filled eyes and said:
"Just to put things in perspective; weren't we a freak accident?"
Now it was the Professor's turn to be blindsided. He stood reeling with his mouth agape as if trying to say something but being unable.
Without another word or without waiting for the professor to come up with one Buttercup looked away and walked up the stairs to her room.
There was more silence as the Professor and Bunny stood motionless at the bottom of the stairs each still absorbing what had just happened.
Finally Bunny put her hands on her hips and glared at the Professor.
"Don't you think that was a little harsh?"
"She got off easy", he insisted. "She's lucky I didn't ground her."
Bunny gave him a dark look.
"You're lucky I didn't let her kill you."
Not wanting to push the issue further Bunny also went upstairs to comfort her sister. She was no doubt sobbing to herself right now.
The Professor meanwhile decided to go to work. He needed something else to occupy him mind right now.
Buttercup lay in her bed with her face in her pillow and her arms holding her stuffed crock close to her chest.
The door opened and Bunny quietly stepped in and closed the door behind her.
Buttercup turned her head to look at her revealing to Bunny her tear stained face.
Sighing Bunny went over and sat down on her bed beside her.
"Are you okay Buttercup?"
Buttercup sniffled.
"William wouldn't leave me right? He wouldn't leave us alone."
"Of course not!", Bunny replied instantly. "You know that he would never leave you. He wants this child as much as you do, you know that."
Buttercup sat up.
"Yeah, I know. I just needed to hear it from somebody else."
Bunny understood. She had been badly shaken form her fight with the Professor and she needed some support right now.
"Are you sure you want to do this?", she asked her. "It's a really big step you're taking. Are you sure you're ready?"
There was a pause as Buttercup considered her answer. she wanted to choose her words carefully.
"I don't know if I'm ready", she admitted. "But I can't let us be separated. I-I love him! We aren't some accident!"
Bunny nodded.
"True but up until a moment ago your father didn't know that."
Buttercup scowled.
"Yeah well I had to say it. I'm not letting him run my life. If I'm going to be responsible for my pup I have to make my own decisions. If I'm going to be his mother I can't let people do that for me."
Bunny smiled and nodded understanding. Buttercup was as ready as she could be now.
"All right, let me just make some calls and we'll get things started."
Buttercup sighed.
"Did I make the right choice Bunny?"
Bunny looked at her for a second then shrugged.
"I guess we'll find out."
She took out her cell phone and started making her calls she sighed inwardly. She didn't know where things were going to go from here.
"What!"
The family had just broken the news to Will that their grandparents were in the city, likely with Master Jonah.
Will calmed down and crossed his arms as he contemplated.
"So he's finally found me."
Maria looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? He's the one who's been after me this whole time. Why else would he bring Grandma and Grandpa with him. They're not exactly his most loyal followers."
"So what do we do?", Auriah asked.
"Simple", Will answered. "Find him and kill him."
"Absolutely not!", Laura shouted "My parents might find out which is what he wants."
Will raised a hand to calm her.
"Relax mom, killing people and getting away with it is what I do for a living."
"He's holed up in a building", she countered. "Away from windows and the like, isolating himself that's why mom and dad are running his errands."
"The slimy bastard", Elise hissed.
"Going after him would cause too much of a ruckus", Laura continued ignoring her daughters comment. "Besides I bet that's what they expect you to do anyway."
Will crossed his arms and grumbled but her conceded her point. In this situation it was best to be patient and wait for them to make a mistake.
"So what do we do?", Will asked impatiently.
Laura sighed.
"The best thing to do would be to go home. If they follow us they'll be playing into our hands instead."
Will tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Well that's all good but what about Buttercup? I can't leave he here by herself. They must know about her too by now."
Laura pinched the bridge of her nose.
"We'll probably have to bring her with us. We'll have to convince her parents but I'm sure she'd be willing to come."
"Her parents strike me as the protective type", Maria observed. "Convincing them to let people they hardly know take their precious daughter away to another country-
"We have to try", her mother interrupted. "It's for her safety after all."
"Yeah that'll go over well", Elise muttered.
A soft beeping tone interrupted the discussion. Will reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
"What's up Bun?" he answered.
Everyone else was respectively silent all keeping their eyes on him as Bunny spoke to him from the other end.
"He did what?"
They could hear Bunny going on but they couldn't make out her words.
Will sighed.
"All right, I'm on my way."
He hung up and looked at Elise.
"It might not have to go over at all."
"What happened?", Auriah asked.
Will grunted.
"Buttercup essentially got kicked out of her house for deciding to grow up."
They looked at him bewildered.
"What?"
"I don't know the details", he said. "But basically she has to move out immediately". He paused then added. Bunny asked me to come pick her up.
"We're coming too", Laura said. "She'll probably need help packing and more than a little consoling too."
"She's not the type who wants pity", Will told her.
"I know that but we should still be there for her. We'll call G and GG maybe they can help."
Will frowned.
"She's not going to like all that attention."
Laura stood up and crossed her arms.
"Well sometimes family is there weather you like it or not."
Will sighed.
"Okay fine but tread lightly please."
"Don't we always?", Auriah asked.
"Do I have to answer?", Will asked back.
"That's enough", their mother interrupted. "Let's try to be in harmony when we get there, for Buttercup's sake."
Will could only frown.
"Buttercup's still not going to like this."
"Awww look at this one it's adorable!"
Mandy took the small dinosaur like baby outfit from her aunt and held it up to examine it.
It was a light orange with small yellow felt spines and a stuffed tail and the feet had little claws.
"It's cute", Mandy admitted. "But it's awfully masculine and I don't know if I'm having a girl or a boy."
Krystal shrugged.
"Well it does help you come up with names and buying clothes for them but some parents like to be surprised."
Mandy frowned.
"I'm not sure I want to be surprised. Just getting pregnant was surprise enough for me."
At that moment Adelaide joined them. She had separated from them briefly to answer a phone call. Now that she was joining them again he face was grim.
"What's wrong?", Krystal asked her. "What's happened."
Adelaide grunted.
"It seems that Buttercup had been forced out of her own home."
Their eyes widened in shock.
"What! Why?"
Adelaide scowled.
"It seems her father is upset over how close she and William are getting. She stayed at his place overnight and it seemed to hit a nerve."
Now Mandy was scowling.
"That's stupid what difference does-
"Mandy?"
Mandy stopped midsentence and her body froze as she recognized the voice.
"M-mom."
Clair and Phil stood at the other end of the aisle looking quite cross.
"What are you doing here?", Clair demanded.
Krystal remained calm and simply shrugged.
"Just visiting my niece. since you can't spend any time with her, I am."
Claire gritted her teeth and marched quickly towards them.
"Why you arrogant little-"
Adelaide stepped between Clair and Krystal blocking the enraged woman's advance.
Clair stopped in front of her surprised by the girl's interference.
Adelaide glared at the older female.
"Dare to finish that sentence?"
Perhaps it was her thick German accent or maybe it was her tone, but either way it got Claire to back away a few steps recognizing that Adelaide was not a girl to be messed with.
Clair looked past the assertive blonde and glared daggers at Krystal.
"You've got a lot of nerve coming here."
"You have a lot of nerve for accusing me of anything Claire. Mandy is at a time in her life when she needs support, guidance and comfort, and since you are incapable at providing any of those things I am here."
Claire's face turned red with rage and she pointed an angry finger at Krystal.
"You think you're better than me!"
Krystal rolled her eyes.
"Oh good grief Claire. You're so immature. When are you going to stop this one sided competition of yours?"
"You're not better than me!" Claire shouted her eyes now with a crazed look in them.
Krystal crossed her arms.
"I am at parenthood obviously because Mandy is over here with me and not with you."
Claire now looked like she would spontaneously combust at any moment.
"I'm better! You'll see, I'll show you I'm better!"
With that she stormed off with a frightened Phil right behind her.
Mandy looked up at her aunt who shook her head.
"Ever since childhood she's been like that."
Mandy heard Adelaide mutter something in German, probably nothing complementary.
Krystal held up the dinosaur outfit again.
"Adelaide don't you think this outfit's adorable?"
Adelaide turned around and examined it.
"Yeah it is quite cute."
Mandy found Adelaide a curious girl. On one hand she had a bright personality, the kind that would make her a popular girl in school. On the other hand she had the personality of a bounty hunter or rebel. Mandy honestly didn't know much about her having just met her recently but from what she saw she liked her.
"Do you want to look at cribs or strollers?"
Mandy shrugged.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt."
"Of course not. It's important to be prepared after all."
Mandy sighed.
"I guess."
Krystal stopped and pulled Mandy into a hug.
"Don't worry Mandy everything will work out okay, and by the end of it you'll have a beautiful baby."
Mandy took a deep breath.
"Yeah okay."
Then as they walked further down the aisle she thought.
'I hope things do turn out okay.'
"Hurry up Bubbles", Blossom called. "We have to get home before the rain starts."
"I'm coming", Bubbles called back as she finally managed to fit everything into her backpack.
The two took off from school and flew the short distance to their house.
Blossom reached for the door handle and frown as she tried to turn it. The door was locked.
"That's weird", Blossom muttered as she dug into her pocket and pulled out her key.
She opened the door and the two girls entered just as the first drops of rain began to fall.
"Whew! Just in time", Bubbles said relieved.
The girls removed the school bags and entered the living room where they noticed Buttercup's absence from her usual spot.
"Maybe she's sleeping in her room", Bubbles suggested. "I'll go check."
"I'll come too. Maybe she's having another dream", Blossom said mischievously.
They quickly approached Buttercup's bedroom door then slowly creaked it open. They peered inside and looked towards Buttercup's bed and were surprised to find it unoccupied.
The opened the door fully and entered the room to investigate.
The bed was completely bare, only the mattress cover remained. All the posters on the walls all the various trophies and doo dads on the shelves and floor were gone. Most of the furniture remained except for the hammock she liked to take naps in.
"Where's all her stuff?", Bubbles asked out loud looking inside Buttercup's empty closet.
"There's no note or anything!", Blossom said with a panicked tone.
"That's why I'm still here."
The two girls whirled around towards the door where Bunny was standing with her arms crossed.
"Where's Buttercup?", Bubbles asked frantically! "What happened?"
Bunny sighed.
"Well it's an ugly story."
"Basically after spending the night at Will's without calling cause they both fell asleep she came home this morning and had a big argument with the Professor.
"I won't go into detail but I think he overreacted. Anyway Buttercup basically had to chose between continuing to freely spend time together with Will, the love of her life, the father or her child, or staying in this house living on a short leash. The reason this room is mostly empty is because she chose option one."
Blossom and Bubbles sat down on the bed as they drank in this sudden revelation.
"Why would he do that?" Blossom asked.
Bunny shrugged.
"Like I said, he probably overreacted."
Bubbles swallowed.
"Where is she now?"
"At Will's place for now. Hopefully he can comfort her enough. He's dealing with his own problems right now."
Blossom looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Bunny sighed.
"Some religious wacko is here now and he's in with whoever's responsible for those weird letters that sent them to the underworld and started this whole thing."
This surprised both girls.
"I get it and he's just trying to find the right way to deal with them right?", Bubbles asked hopefully.
Bunny nodded but her expression was solemn.
"Yeah but he brought some of his cult followers with him and unfortunately they're Laura's parents and older brother."
This was a huge shock to the puffs. They found it almost impossible to believe that Laura might have been raised in a religious cult environment.
Blossom sighed.
"And let me guess they're not aware that Laura married, morphed into and gave birth to a dragon. That is to say they don't know about anything."
Bunny nodded.
"I don't think they're even aware elementals exist."
Blossom scowled.
"So that means he might not be able to do anything without exposing their secret."
"That's about right", Bunny told her.
"Poor Laura", Bubbles said. "I can't imagine what kind of childhood she must have had."
"It's a long story", Bunny said. "But that's not really important right now. If you want the family to stay together than you'll have to bridge the gorge between Buttercup and your parents."
Blossom frowned.
"That's a tall order. Buttercup can really hold a grudge and she's really stubborn."
"I'd be more worried about your parents", Bunny told her. "They're the ones you have to convince because Buttercup will not, should not change her mind."
The other two girls sighed.
"We'll I'm going back to my hotel. I'll see you two later."
"What? You're not staying here?" they both asked.
"If Buttercup's not welcome here neither am I."
Having nothing else to say Bunny left the room and went downstairs and out the door.
Bubbles started after her but Blossom grabbed her shoulder and shook her head.
"No it's best this way."
Bubble's lip quivered but she resigned to Blossoms reasoning.
"But it doesn't make any sense!", Bubbles yelled. "What does the Professor have against Will? He's been nothing but good to Buttercup."
Blossom's brows furrowed as they always did when she was thinking hard.
"Maybe that's the problem. He's too good for her, maybe too good to be true."
"Are you saying he's faking it? Just putting on an act?" Bubbles was appalled.
Blossom sighed.
"I don't know but you have to admit-
"I don't believe it!"
Cut off Blossom was surprised by her sisters sudden outburst.
"Will may be a little different but he's still a nice guy. Besides look at his family, they're all so nice and caring."
"How do we know they're not in on it too?"
"That's enough", Bubbles shouted. "You're too suspicious."
"You're too naive!", Blossom shouted back.
"You're so critical!"
"You're so childish!"
The two were at the point where they were literally butting heads.
"I thought you trusted him now", Bubbles said through gritted teeth.
"I did, but maybe the Professor knows something we don't."
"When why would he let Buttercup leave?"
Blossom had to pause to think for a moment.
"He was probably trying to bluff her. After all she usually plays it safe when making tough decisions."
"Maybe she did", Bubbles argued.
"Now who's being critical. You don't have any right to criticize the Professor. He's our father!"
"That doesn't make him perfect", Bubbles argued. "He doesn't know Will as well as Buttercup does or us for that matter."
"Buttercup hasn't exactly made the best decisions when it comes to her love life."
Bubbles crossed her arms.
"You can't seriously be putting Will in the same category as Ace and Mitch."
"We thought Mitch was a decent guy too at first, then we find out he's in with the wrong crowd."
"And Buttercup stopped hanging out with him the second she found out", Bubbles defended.
"It took her a long time even though we tried to tell her for two weeks."
"I know that but this time it's different!", Bubbles insisted.
"How!", Blossom bellowed. "What makes this different?"
"Dantè."
Blossom was suddenly silent, her train of thought completely derailed after being taken from behind by Bubbles who went on.
"Dantè, her son, our nephew is her highest priority. She loves that baby more than anything else! Do you really think she would make a big decision like she did without thinking about how it would affect her baby? She believes that the decision she made was best for her baby and we should support her."
Bubbles stepped away.
The Professor may know something we don't but Buttercup probably does too, and I'm going to believe in her."
With that Bubbles promptly stormed out of the room went down the hall to her own bedroom and slammed the door shut causing Blossom to wince.
With the whirlwind of Buttercup's disappearance and their argument finally smashing into the protected wall of her mind Blossom collapsed to her knees and started to cry.
"What do I do?", she sobbed. "What do I do? What do I do?"
Bubbles slammed her door shut flopped on her bed and buried her face into her pillow just as the tears in her eyes began to flow out.
"I can't believe her", she cried as she hugged her fluffy blue pillow tightly.
"Why can't she believe that there are some really good people in the world? Why does she always have to be right? Why does she still treat me like I'm the baby?"
She turned on her side and stared at the poster of a singer on her wall.
"And to think I was going to ask her to go with me to the Missy Mrs. Comeback Concert."
She brought up her knees and lay more in a fetal position.
"Poor Buttercup. I wish I knew what to do to help her."
The rain outside was pouring in sheets and the wind howled between buildings blowing debris along with it. Despite nature's display Buttercup was completely unaware of it as she was caught in her own personal storm.
She sat on the couch watching tv trying to distract herself from the events of only seven hours ago. After some time in Will's arms she had managed to stop crying and now produced only the occasional sniffle.
She had her stuffed crock and her blanket held tightly to her chest as she forced her tears back.
Around her were her three suitcases of her most important possessions. Everything else from her room was in storage.
She had started going through them but it made her upset so she had switched to the television and the whole while Will had been asking her if she was okay. It was really starting to get on her nerves.
Will walked into the living room and looked at Buttercup sitting glumly on the couch.
"You okay?"
Finally she snapped.
"For the hundredth time I'm fine! Stop asking every time you see me!"
"That's a tall order when you're lying to my face!", Will shouted back.
Tears welled up in Buttercup's eyes and she grimaced trying to think of something to counter him but nothing came. she looked away and the tears began to flow down her reddened cheeks.
Sighing Will walked over and sat down on the couch beside her. He sat still waiting, thinking what to say.
"Buttercup?", he asked quietly.
Buttercup turned to face him and he gently wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close.
"I'm sorry", he said as he rubbed her back. "My nerves are a little frayed right now. It's frustrating seeing you like this and not knowing how to help."
Buttercup lay her head on his chest.
I know, I'm sorry too, but I really don't want to talk about it right now."
"All right", he agreed reluctantly. "Suppers ready so let's go eat."
He stood up and then gently pulled Buttercup to her feet.
They walked into the kitchen and sat down for a meal of lasagna.
During the meal nothing was said other than Will asking her how the food was.
After her third piece Buttercup set down her fork and sighed.
Will waited a moment and then asked her;
"Are you ready to talk now?"
She locked eyes with him, showing the sadness and hurt in her normally bright emerald eyes.
"Did I do the right thing?", she asked him. "Am I really acting grown up or am I even more childish?"
Will paused to consider his answer and then responded.
"It depends on your reason for making the decision you made. Was the reason childish or grown up? What was your reason?"
Buttercup looked down at her hands sitting in her lap.
"I didn't want us to be pulled apart. I want all three of us to be together as a family."
She locked eyes with him.
"We need you, I trust you."
Will got up out of his seat and knelt beside her. He gently took her hand.
"It's okay", he told her softly. "I'm here, I'm here for you."
Buttercup sniffled and nodded.
"I know."
Will sighed.
"Look you won't be able to stay away from them forever. It's illegal for someone our age to live in a home without adult supervision except under special circumstances."
"Like Majority Status?", Buttercup asked knowingly.
"Yeah like..."
Will's eyes widened.
"You have majority status?"
She grinned.
"Well being a superhero has it's perks. That's how Blossom got her driver's license, and Bubbles and I got our majority status papers."
Will blinked.
"So in other words you could have left home anytime you wanted."
Buttercup shrugged.
"More or less."
"But you were smart enough not to?"
"I'd already learned my lesson", she responded.
"I see."
Will paused for a moment to take a deep breath.
"Do you have a plan now?", he asked her. "As things are you can't stay here either."
Buttercup frowned, she knew that was true. The Professor could probably find a way to get her majority status revoked if he wanted to, and then what? Would they be separated, her child unable to see his father? Or worse, from her! No she wouldn't let it happen.
"What do I do?", she choked.
Will have her hand a gentle squeeze.
"You're not alone Buttercup. This is our child, we have to work together."
Buttercup wiped her eyes.
"I know and you've been great really, but the Professor doesn't see it. I don't know how we can prove to him that we really love each other."
"You can say yes."
Buttercup looked at him puzzled.
"Say yes to what?"
Will opened his palm and flames swirled tightly and solidified into a red velvet box.
"Will you marry me?"
Buttercup gasped and her eyes went as wide as saucers.
The velvet box opened slowly revealing the most beautiful ring Buttercup had ever seen.
The large primary stone was a square shaped Emerald polished to a high sheen and was flanked on each side by another smaller emerald and a spiral band of tiny diamonds was wrapped around the gold ring itself.
Her jaw dropped upon seeing the stunning ornament.
"It's beautiful", she said breathlessly.
Will smiled, the relief on his face was obvious.
It was no mystery that Buttercup wasn't one for jewelry so he had been beside himself with nervousness about whether she would like it.
The relief in his eyes was soon displaced by dread knowing now what he must do.
"Before you answer there's something I need to tell you."
Buttercup now looked worried. What other bad things could have happened today?
"What is it?", she asked.
He took a deep breath.
"I'm a member of a black ops unit that discreetly eliminates global threats. You know like terrorists, dictators, super villains, reporters, the paparazzi, you know bad people."
Buttercup was silent a moment.
"So basically you kill people for a living?"
Will nodded.
"More or less and I won't lie I'm very good at my job and I find it very satisfying sometimes."
"Is that all you had to tell me?", Buttercup asked.
"That's pretty much it."
Buttercup let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. I was afraid something significant."
"I'm sure your parents would have found it significant."
"Well Black Ops means secret right? So I just won't tell them."
Will smirked.
"Yeah you're right. So Will you marry me?"
Buttercup smiled.
"You big idiot like you really need to ask."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked straight into his eyes her own brimming with tears, but now they were tears of joy.
"Of course I'll marry you!"
Relief flooded through Will's entire body as though every cell in his body and been collectively holding their breaths and were now able to breathe again.
Will gently took Buttercup's hand and ever so gently slipped the ring onto her finger.
Buttercup's heart pounded furiously and her breath was shallow as she watched with rapt attention as he slipped the ring on her finger. It was almost magical, like a dream.
When Will let go with the ring settled firmly in its new place on Buttercup's finger she felt as light as air, like she was flying.
She slid off her chair and hugged Will tightly, afraid of floating away from this wonderful dream if it wasn't real.
"This isn't a dream? Is this really happening?"
Will smiled and hugged her back.
"It's really happening", he assured her.
"So then I can stay with you now? We can stay together?"
"Yes Buttercup, we can stay together."
Suddenly Buttercup knocked him on his back and straddled his torso.
He looked up at her as she leaned towards his face grinning seductively.
She grabbed his shoulders and said:
"If that's the case then I want to have a little fun."
Will smiled back.
"You read my mind."
"Of course. After all I'm your wife."
The Professor and Margaret sat in a dark circular room with only an overhead spot lamp providing illumination.
They each sat in a big fluffy black leather chair facing the desk and the person occupying it.
"Everything's happening as you said it would", the Professor told the man at the desk reluctantly. "It's like they're physically pulling her away from us. I mean she's never been the poster child for obedience but now she's practically in revolt."
The man nodded.
"Yes she is nearing the point of no return. If you wish to save her before the transformation is complete then you must act quickly."
"That's why we're here Mister Pitch", Margaret said. "At first we didn't think it was necessary even a little extreme, but now..."
Sales Pitch clasped his hands and placed them on the desk as he leaned towards them.
"I warned you ahead of time what measures we would have to take in order to save her and I told you that the more you delayed the more extreme those measures would become. Are you now saying that you are willing to accept those extreme measures in order to save your daughter?"
The Professor looked down at his hands sadly. He felt like a failure as a parent, a father. He felt that this was the best option available to him, but her wasn't sure it was the right one. He loved Buttercup, he didn't want her to get hurt. However the alternative was too unthinkable and had to be avoided at all costs.
"She might never forgive us, but it's for her own good."
Sales pitch nodded understanding.
"Very well. I'll make arrangements and my secretary will have you fill out some forms. Now if you will excuse me I have another appointment."
Slowly the two got up and headed for the door.
As they left the room the each hoped that God would forgive them for their complicity in their own grandson's murder, because they knew that Buttercup never would.
Once they left the room Pitch's desk revolved one-hundred-eighty degrees to face the door on the opposite side of the room.
The door opened and Claire stormed in with her ever timid husband cowering behind her.
She walked up and slammed her hands onto Pitch's desk.
"Listen: I don't know why you want Mandy I don't care, you can have her! I want her gone yesterday you understand!"
Sales Pitch grinned.
"Of course. We have a deal then. I'll need you to sign some forms with my secretary and then I'll work on collecting her."
Claire backed away.
"I don't care what you do just get her out of my hair!"
With that said Claire stomped out of the room with Phil as ever close behind, leaving a very satisfied man.
Outside Claire and Phil were on their way to the secretary.
"Are you sure you want to just give up Mandy like this Claire?", Phil asked his enraged wife.
"I'd rather lose Mandy to them then to her", she answered without looking back or breaking step. "And as long as she doesn't get Mandy back I win. As long as I win nothing else matters."
Thank you all for your patience. I have spent weeks writing this chapter and I hope you like it. Lot's of drama for you all to nibble on and hopefully enough to satisfy you till the next chapter. Thank you to my loyal readers and hope you enjoyed it.