Prophecy

by Madame Fist

In their final year of high school, Team X will face unavoidable highs and lows - the woes of being super powered, and teenage. They'll share firsts, lasts, and will have to navigate their way through deception, manipulation and inevitably heartbreak. Him is still an underlying threat in their lives, as are the mysterious prophecies he lives by.. Sequel to Choices. PPG/RRB

4. There's a thought I verbalised

Sorry for my delay in updating - I got really sick. I'm better now and trying to get back into the swing of writing regularly.

Quick note for this chapter - if you went to high school in America, and you're reading this thinking, 'this is NOT realistic to how senior year at high school is', my bad. I'm pretty certain I mentioned this before when writing Choices, but just for the sake of this story too, I'm from the UK and went through schooling here. And from what I can tell it's a very different experience. An experience that's different now from when I experienced it, considering I finished school a longggggg time ago. Anyway - if you're reading thinking, 'why aren't they doing this?' 'It doesn't go like that, they should be doing this' - I'm sorry! I tried to research it but I know someone is going to think it's not realistic. I hope it doesn't take from the story too much. Enjoy!

---

Blossom sighed with relief as her feet touched solid ground once again; or maybe it was more the fact she was back on home soil.

Glancing back at Brick, then at the plane they'd just alighted from, she grimaced a little. As glad as she was to finally be home, she had to say she was also relieved to be off the plane - she was not a fan.

Brick smirked at her as he rearranged the bag that was on his shoulder. "I still can't believe that's the first time you've been on a plane. Well, conscious anyway."

"What use do I have for airplanes? I can fly!" She cried, and he grinned.

"Which is what makes it funnier that you didn't like being on a plane. Because you can fly!" He responded with a chuckle and she pouted.

"When I fly, I'm in control - if I fall I'll likely dust myself off and get back up again. If that thing falls out of the sky and I'm in it, powerless, that's it! However, if I have my powers, I can carry the whole plane to safety."

They're light bickering was disrupted by a shrill scream in the distance that Blossom instantly recognised. "Oh my god! Blossom!"

"They're here!" Blossom cried, spying her sisters, the Professor, Butch and Boomer across the runway, being escorted over by a couple of Townsville Police officers.

"Why are they here?" Brick questioned, his ruby eyes glaring at the officers.

"They're your brothers!" Blossom replied; Brick rolled his eyes.

"Not them, the pigs - I mean cops." She'd cranked a brow at the name.

"They probably want to talk to us…"

"Great." He replied dryly.

"Blossom, Blossom, Blossom!" Bubbles cried, appearing before them in a bolt of blue and scooping her sister up into a bear hug. "Oh my god I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Bubbles - no powers, no powers!" Blossom cried, tapping her on the arm rapidly.

"You're suffocating her!" Brick cried.

"Oopsy! My bad!" Bubbles let her go instantly, rubbing her arm gently as Blossom took a gulp of air. She turned to Brick then, who flashed her a look that said 'don't you dare'. She dared, reaching forward and grabbing him next. "Brick! I'm so glad to see you too!"

"I'm really not a hugger." He mumbled awkwardly, his arm patting her back rigidly.

"Brick!" Boomer glomped him from the other side, wrapping his arms around both his girlfriend and his brother. "Oh my god it's so good to see you man!"

"Don't squeeze so hard I'm full of Antidote X!"

"How was the vacay?" Butch asked sarcastically as Brick was released from the blonde killer cuddle. "Where's the tan? You look pale as fuck."

"Amazing, 5 stars." Brick responded sarcastically as Butch squeezed his hand and pulled him into a brief one armed hug. "Ahh - watch it will you? I don't have my powers!" The red ruff yelped, as Butch squished his hand just a little bit too tightly.

"So good to have you home." Butch replied with a snicker.

Buttercup had stayed with the Professor - who didn't have super speed - and the cops, who'd just caught up with them.

"Oh sweetheart." The Professor cried, throwing his arms around his daughter the moment he approached her - she reciprocated the hug willingly.

"Glad you're home." Buttercup told her sister as she embraced their Dad. "Can you stop scaring the shit out of me from here on out?"

Blossom chuckled, wiping a happy tear from her eye. "I'll do my best to not get kidnapped any time soon."

"If you could." Buttercup replied dryly, taking Blossom by surprise and grabbing her for a brief hug when the Professor unleashed her.

"Blossom, Brick - I'm Officer Merry, I handled your disappearance case from Townsville. I'm so pleased you're back home, and in one piece too." Officer Merry, one of the cops who'd walked the Utonium's and Jojo's over spoke.

"Oh hi, yes, so are we!" Blossom replied politely, as Brick gave her an even stare. He knew Officer Merry as a cop who was willing to give himself and his brother's a chance - but his back was still instinctively up after the last few days' events. His relationship with TPD was certainly going to be rockier from here on out, he predicted, considering a handful of their officers had been key in making sure Melvin and Princess' plan unfolded correctly.

"We're going to need to speak with you both down at the station as soon as possible - to go over things. We have liaised with West Bay Police but as you disappeared here in Townsville -"

Brick interrupted her. "We didn't disappear, we were drugged and kidnapped. In Townsville Police Department, to be specific. Drugged and kidnapped by Officer Chalmers, and some other cop - both Townsville Police Officers, to be even more specific. The same Townsville Police officer who made his feelings about myself and my brothers clear time and time again on call outs - which you witnessed on some occasions. We've just got back home. Whatever you need from us can wait."

"Brick…" Blossom chastised, but Buttercup folded her arms across her chest. Even the Professor didn't voice any disagreements.

"No, I think he's got a point." The green puff muttered.

"We're still powerless, I'm not stepping foot inside that police department until I have Chemical X coursing through my veins again." Brick continued.

"Brick, I completely get where you're coming from - this is precisely why we need to talk with you, to discuss what happened so we can get to the bottom of who -" Officer Merry spoke, but he cut her off again.

"I just told you - Officer Chalmers. And some other tall dude in glasses. Him and whoever he hangs around with, there were two of them in total."

"Officer Merry," Blossom stepped in front of him, seeing he was beginning to lose his temper. "Thank you so much for all you've done to try and help find us over these past couple of days. Bubbles and Buttercup told me how hard you've worked to hunt us down - I'm, we're super grateful. However, we have just touched down in Townsville. Can we not just have a little time to recoup before we have to get into the details of it all again?"

She nodded, arranging her hat on her head. "Tell you what, I'll come to you. Tomorrow morning. And we can go through everything. Sound fair?" The cop angled her head to look at Brick too, who only scowled in response.

"That sounds great. Thank you, Officer Merry." Professor Utonium said, shaking her hand and thanking her once more before she and the other officer left them with the airport staff member who was waiting to escort them off the runway.

"You really didn't need to be so rude to her. She's been trying to help us from the get go." Blossom scolded Brick, who didn't look assured by that.

"Please, they're all the same."

"No, she's one of the good ones!" Bubbles insisted. "She worked around the clock to find you both!"

"There shouldn't be good ones, Bubbles." Buttercup murmured, and the blonde struggled to argue with that point.

"Come on, let's get home and get you two some Chemical X." The Professor said, eyeing Blossom's bandaged hand and Brick's colourfully bruised face. "You look like you need it."

---

"Hey sleeping beauty." Bubbles said softly as she hovered to her bed; Blossom had just begun to stir as she'd quietly entered the bedroom they shared. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, so much better for sleeping in my own bed. And to have my powers back. Not having them for days on end makes you feel so…" She trailed off as she stretched, trying to find the right word.

"Dull?" Buttercup finished for her as she hovered through.

"Grey?" Bubbles added.

"Pointless." Buttercup suggested again, causing both her sisters to cock an eyebrow at her.

"I agree with the first two, but maybe not the third." The redhead replied, sending her brunette sister a mildly concerned look.

Buttercup shrugged. "That's how it makes me feel."

"Well, we're certainly not pointless without our powers." Blossom responded as she glanced at the time on her alarm clock by her bed; 3.45pm. Brick and his brothers would be over for dinner soon. The Professor had given them both their Chemical X shots and taken Brick home, insisting they all come over for dinner so Brick had a proper meal after everything that happened.

"Yeah, Blossom managed to beat Melvin and Princess up without them, remember." Bubbles pointed out, and Buttercup sent her sister a proud look.

"Because we're bad ass by nature, obviously." The green puff said, as if she wasn't surprised by this; it was a clear fact.

Bubbles giggled as Blossom smiled, surveying her wrist that now looked like nothing had happened. "It's a lot more painful throwing a punch without your powers, I gotta say."

"Just as satisfying though." Buttercup grinned.

"Hmm." She murmured, noticing her hotline device sitting by her bed. "I'm glad to have this back too - I feel like I'm missing a limb without it. Did I miss many call outs?"

"God Blossom, who cares if you did? You had your own shit to deal with at the time." The green puff replied in exasperation. Her sister was nothing if not dedicated.

"I know, I know. I'm just so glad to be home. It felt like they were never gunna let us leave." Blossom muttered as she kicked her comforter back and stretched once more.

"Was the hotel at least nice?" Bubbles queried, and Blossom nodded.

"Oh, the hotel was gorgeous. And they were really accommodating while we were there. It just all felt very… Tainted. It was difficult to enjoy staying there. Probably because we had to, we didn't want to. We just wanted to come home. But, I dunno, there were some positive aspects of being there, I suppose." She murmured, a coy little smile playing about her lips that she was quick to try and hide.

But they noticed it.

"Oh I'm sure there were. Sandy beaches, sitting poolside..." Bubbles envisioned, but Blossom thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"We didn't really utilise anything like that… We didn't leave the bedroom much to be honest." The moment she finished her sentence she knew she'd worded that wrong; they both exploded into coo's and giggles.

"You didn't leave the bedroom hmm?" Buttercup asked with a wicked expression, enjoying being able to tease her sister again now she was home.

"I meant the hotel room!" Blossom insisted, her cheeks flushing red. "I mean't the room! I just meant we didn't go and do anything, we stayed inside!"

"Did you? Did you really mean that? Did you really mean hotel room? Or did you mean the hotel bedroom?" Bubbles queried.

The pink puff, now bright red, got to her feet. "I need to shower."

Bubbles and Buttercup exchanged looks of astonishment before promptly following their sister into the ensuite bathroom connected to their bedroom. Blossom Utonium was a terrible liar; and so she was known to avoid a question rather than be forced into a position where lying seemed the only option - meaning something had definitely happened.

"Blossom, do you have something to tell us?" Bubbles asked sweetly as Buttercup closed the bathroom door behind her with her foot.

"Yes - I'm about to have a shower so if you could -"

Buttercup reached forward and turned the shower head on over the bath, mostly to create more noise before she asked her sister a question - the Professor did have some kind of sonar ability when it came to this sort of topic and his girls. "Did you and Brick have sex while you were in the Cayman Islands?"

Her expression gave it away, she looked positively startled by the abruptness of it's delivery.

"Keep your voice down!" She hissed; Buttercup simply cocked her thumb towards the running shower.

"Blossom! Why didn't you tell us?!" Bubbles cried, throwing her arms around her in an embrace.

"I was going to - I just didn't know when was appropriate…" The redhead mumbled, feeling her cheeks burning even hotter. "I've not been home that long - was I supposed to call you immediately after?"

"Uhh, yes! Oh my gosh you have to tell us everything!" Bubbles gushed; Blossom didn't look enthused by that idea.

"Not everything, just the gist of how it went down." Buttercup assured her. "We do not need gritty details."

Blossom sighed, a small smile playing about her lips. "Well… We've been talking about it for a while now, so we knew it would be soon. But then, after everything that very almost played out with Melvin, and Princess…" Her expression fell as memories of Melvin pawing at her filled her mind. "We talked about it some more while we were there and we decided we were both ready. And it was really great."

"Ohh Blossom I'm so happy for you guys! Did it hurt?" The blonde puff asked; Blossom shrugged.

"A bit, initially. I bled a tiny bit too; which freaked Brick out. But, I'm guessing that was down to not having our powers at the time, or something."

"You wait till you do it with powers." Buttercup grinned, causing Blossom to blush some more.

"Aww, that's amazing - you guys are so cute." Bubbles cooed.

"Can I get a shower now? Alone, if possible?" Blossom asked, as they both got the message and exited the bathroom.

Once the door was closed, Blossom locked it from the inside. Bubbles turned to her sister with a gleeful expression. "That's so great for them! I'm so happy for them. About time too!"

But Buttercup's brow had creased a little as something had come to her mind. "No, me too. It's just - that girl better get her ass on some birth control."

Bubbles cocked a brow. "That's probably a good idea… But, what makes you say that? I mean, Boomer and I have been doing stuff for months now and you've never told me to get on birth control - you're not even on it yourself! Unless you are?"

"I'm not, but it's probably not the worst idea after speaking to the boys' Demon Uncle - or whatever the hell he is, the other day. Don't you remember what he said? About Blossom and Brick? The whole baby thing?" The green puff replied in hushed tones.

Bubbles' face fell with concern. "Oh yeah. Oh god, we really need to fill them in! Especially now they're -"

"Exactly!" Buttercup cried.

"Okay - we'll do it tonight, when the boys come over for dinner. We'll try and pull them aside to tell them what happened and what Otis said - or maybe get them to stay over, if they want to, or just to stay late, and do it when the Professor is in bed..." Bubbles proposed, and the green puff nodded her agreement.

---

"Dude, stop fucking eating, you know the Professor specifically invited us over to eat." Brick scolded as he floated through to the living area from his bedroom, catching Butch shoving a cookie into his mouth.

"You know, I missed you and your nagging dearly when you were MIA." Butch replied sarcastically, his cheeks stuffed with baked goods.

Brick only rolled his eyes in response. "Boomer - you ready to go?"

"Uh huh." Boomer replied, making him jump; he hadn't spotted him sitting on the sofa. "Did you forget Butch's stomach is a bottomless pit while you were sunning it up in the Cayman Islands? You know he'll clear his plate no matter how many cookies he chucks down his throat. It's the 8th world wonder."

"True that." Butch replied as he stuffed a second into his gob.

"I was not sunning it up in the Cayman Islands. That crazy fucking bitch was making my life a living hell. She's deluded, you've no fucking idea what she put me through -" Brick snapped.

"I know man, I know - it was a joke!" Boomer cried defensively. "I guess we're not ready to laugh about any of it yet…"

"Well, you try getting shocked with an obedience disc like a naughty dog in a shock collar endlessly, then being fucking handcuffed to a bed by that psychotic woman and see how soon after you're ready to yuk it up!" Brick muttered irritably.

"Damn, Blossom's kinky as fuck!" Butch cried, punctuating his sentence with a cackle. Boomer also cracked up laughing, covering his face with his hands to try and hide it.

Brick looked extremely unimpressed, flashing Butch a dark look; but he couldn't keep it up for long. He wanted to, because it wasn't funny, what Princess had done to him wasn't funny at all. But his brothers were such fucking boneheads - and he supposed he knew deep down he'd miss them too much if he murdered them both right now.

"You're such a fucking tool." Brick muttered, doing his best to hold back his smirk.

Butch was pointing at him with a wide grin. "You know you wanna laugh!"

"I know I wanna strangle you." Brick said, grabbing him by the hood of his hoodie and yanking it downwards so it choked him for a millisecond before letting him go. "And you, for encouraging him." He spoke to his blonde brother now, slapping him upside the head as he passed - Boomer howled in complaint. "Come on, let's get going."

"I'm sorry man, it was just too easy an opportunity. I had to grab it up." Butch said, finally catching his breath from laughing at his own joke.

"I'm sorry too. What Morbucks did isn't funny at all - I threw up a little in my mouth just picturing it in my mind, so to live through it? It's rough, man." Boomer apologised, patting his redheaded brother on the shoulder sympathetically.

"Exactly." Brick muttered as he locked up their apartment. "Have some fucking sympathy for me."

Butch scoffed. "I sympathise for what happened with Princess - but dude, you were on a tropical island with your girlfriend for 2 days afterwards - that had to have had plenty of pros."

"We weren't on a fucking vacation Butch, we wanted to come home. We had no powers, felt like shit and didn't wanna be there." Brick grumbled as they left the apartment building and began to fly down the road towards the Powerpuff Girls' family home; they lived on the same street now, it was a 5-10 minute walk, and even less when you could fly. "Don't forget a cop used my face as a punching bag days before."

"Yeah, but she must have thrown on a bikini at least once?!" Butch assumed, as though the idea made everything else worth it.

Brick elbowed him hard in the chest. "You shouldn't be thinking about your girlfriend's sister in a bikini. You shouldn't be thinking about your brother's girlfriend in a bikini."

"Point taken." Butch gasped, winded from the blow.

"Did you guys at least take advantage of the location while you were waiting to come home? I bet it was so nice being somewhere like that with your girlfriend. I'd fucking love to take Bubbles somewhere like that." Boomer asked, his expression becoming dreamy at the idea.

The red ruff was beginning to get irate. "How many times do I have to say we weren't on a fucking trip together - I didn't take her to the Cayman Islands, did I? We were fucking kidnapped!"

"I know, I know! Just, you were stuck there right? Through no fault of your own…" Boomer murmured with a shrug. "It's a pretty scenic place, is all."

"Regardless of the circumstances, trust you and Blossom to stay inside rather than soaking up that island life for a couple of days while you had the chance to." Butch said with a small scoff.

Images of what himself and Blossom had gotten up to whilst they were staying inside flickered through Brick's mind, and he smirked, rather than getting annoyed with them. "Who says you can't have fun inside?"

A small silence ensued, both Butch and Boomer processing what they thought Brick had just told them. The red ruff wasn't going to spell it out for them, he'd leave it and see if they figured it out.

"No fucking way!" Butch cried. "You hit a homerun on the Cayman Islands?!"

Brick only smiled in response, enjoying watching his brother's mouths fall open.

"Bro, nice." Butch grinned. "Why didn't you fucking tell us? We told you when we -"

"Yeah, and I didn't really wanna know." Brick replied, his brunette brother rolling his eyes.

"Oh whatever - how was it? You didn't have your powers, did you? You wait till you do it with them. I'd put money on it being better." Butch said, looking to Boomer for confirmation. "You agree Boom? I've never done it without but I bet it's better with."

The blonde ruff looked deep in thought, his brow furrowed. He looked over when he realised he was being spoken to. "Huh? Oh, yeah, probably better with powers. But, I bet it's not that big of a difference..."

"Either way - that's awesome bro." Butch clapped the red ruff on the back. "So come on, we need details."

"That's a shame cos you're not getting any." Brick replied simply; Butch groaned in complaint. "Boomer..? You okay?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah - I'm fine! Congrats on P in V." He mumbled, still looking troubled. Brick cranked a brow at him; Butch laughed.

"Thank you?" Brick muttered, watching him closely. He knew when something was on his blue brother's mind. And now was one of those moments. He looked as though he was worrying.

Boomer looked worried because he was worried. As happy as he was for Brick and his progressing relationship, all he could hear in his head was Otis, rambling on about having a baby living with them in the Underworld.

Brick and Blossom's baby.

And Brick had no idea - as far as he was aware anyway.

He also had no idea they'd attempted to summon Him, but ended up speaking to Otis and learned all this future baby stuff, too. The sooner he knew the better - even though he knew he'd be pretty pissed with him about the whole thing.

Boomer swallowed as they approached the Powerpuff girls' home. After dinner, he'd tell him after dinner. If the right time came up anyway.

When was the right time to tell someone the Devil wanted to steal their baby? The blue ruff had no idea. He couldn't imagine they made greeting cards for the occasion...

---

Whilst Brick was happy to get to see Blossom once more - and to see her with her life and vitality back now her powers were restored - he'd half wanted to kick back at home for the rest of the day after the crazy couple of days it had been; he had to admit he was happy to be home.

However, now his stomach was full of homemade chicken pot pie, he was glad he'd agreed to come over for dinner at the Powerpuff girls residence; the Professor sure could cook. And he genuinely couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten fresh vegetables.

Afterwards, they'd helped him clear up the kitchen, then ended up in the living room watching some TV with the Professor. A phone call had taken Professor Utonium to his office, leaving just the three Powerpuff's and Rowdyruff's in the living area.

As was usual, Brick, Butch and Boomer relaxed considerably at his exit, sinking closer to their other halves now it was 'safe' to do so.

Brick lowered his head down towards Blossom's ear to ask her if she was okay, which she confirmed with a small nod and a loving squeeze of his leg.

"Have you told your Dad, or your sisters, about what happened in the hotel?" He murmured, and watched as her cheeks went considerably scarlet. He shook his head rapidly, a brief smile gracing his lips. "Not that. I meant the panic attack…"

"Oh." She answered in a low voice. "No, I haven't. I think it was a one time thing… I mean, it's not happened since. I just got a bit worked up - it was probably an overreaction. No point making a big deal out of it."

He cranked a brow at her. "It wasn't an overreaction - and it doesn't have to be a big deal, just - maybe they should know so they can help if it happens again."

"It won't happen again." She said certainly. He didn't look so convinced - how could she know that for sure?

When a few minutes had passed and the Professor didn't return, Boomer looked over to his girlfriend, nudging her with his elbow gently and sending a pointed look at his redheaded brother, who was chatting quietly with his counterpart, then back to her.

The blonde puff looked at him blankly before she realised what he was trying to say.

"Oh, yes!" Bubbles cried, as Boomer rubbed at his forehead; she sure was smooth when she needed to be.

Her outburst caused everyone else in the room to look round at her. "Everything okay Bubbles?" Blossom asked curiously.

"Erm, yes." Bubbles answered, before pausing. "Well, sort of…"

"What is it?"

"We kind of have something we need to tell you both…" Bubbles murmured, looking towards the door and trying to listen out for her father; she could hear him on the phone still down in the lab now.

"Yeah, umm, something sorta happened a couple of days ago, while you guys were AWOL." Boomer added now as Buttercup and Butch realised what they were about to tell them about.

"What? What happened?" Blossom asked. Brick had immediately spotted his blonde brother's 'guilty' face and cranked a brow at him.

"What did you do?" He asked him bluntly.

"Why do you assume I've done something?!" Boomer cried, until he reined it in to get back to the issue at hand. "Look - we were all going crazy trying to figure out where the hell you both were. Both your hotline devices were switched off and totally untraceable -"

Butch spoke then, cutting him off. "And Boomer pointed out that the last time that happened to your celly's, it's cos they were in the flaming pits of Hell, with Him. So we took a pause on the searching for you both to -"

Brick's crimson eyes flashed at his brothers. "What did you guys do?"

Both Boomer and Butch stopped talking for a moment. "You wanna take it from here, Boom?" Butch murmured, adamant that Boomer was going to take the most impact from their brother - calling Him had been his idea after all.

Boomer swallowed. "Well, it's true, right? Him's got beef with you both over the prophecy stuff, we thought -"

"You thought." Butch cut in, receiving a glare from his blue brother.

"Fine, I thought maybe Him had taken you both again. So, we went out to the woods, and kind of, sort of tried to summon Him..."

"You did what?!" Brick cried.

"But he didn't pick up!" Boomer immediately defended.

"Yeah, he's still all injured - big props to our girl Red." Butch said, pointing to Blossom, who cranked a brow at him.

"Otis answered the call. Not Him, so it was fine -" Boomer continued until Brick interrupted him.

"Summoning Him is never fine, Boomer! What were you thinking?!" The red ruff barked.

"I just told you what I was thinking! I was thinking you were in danger and that Him was the one behind it! He didn't even answer anyway so it's irrelevant!"

"It's not fucking irrelevant! What would you have done if Him had appeared? You think you'd have received a warm reception?! That was risky as hell trying to bring him here!" Brick said with fiery eyes.

"I was trying to help find you! Last time he had you it was bad, I thought -"

"I don't care what you thought, never fucking summon Him! God, I didn't think I'd have to spell it out to you to not summon the Devil!" Brick cried, running a hand through his hair and dislodging his cap.

"We were trying to help! We were desperate!" Bubbles said, attempting to stand up for Boomer; she didn't like how much the red ruff was laying into him. His actions had come from a place of concern.

"No one is ever so desperate they have to bring Him here willingly." Brick replied flatly, and Bubbles scowled at him.

"Well we felt that way. Last time you two went missing like that you were in the Underworld! And in grave danger! We were just trying to help." The blonde puff replied, folding her arms across her chest.

Blossom squeezed Brick's leg once more; a subtle command for him to calm down.

"Yeah, calm your tits Brick - we didn't do it as a fun little activity to pass the time, did we? You think we wanted to stand around chatting with a Demon?" Buttercup added now.

Brick rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his own chest now. "What did Otis have to say? You're so fucking lucky it was him who answered and not someone else - you could have unleashed any kind of unhinged Demon into Townsville."

"Says the former Demon." Butch added with a grin. Brick didn't look impressed.

"Uhh," Boomer muttered, looking down into his lap and then over to Bubbles for guidance. "Otis, well - he told us you weren't with Him, obviously..."

Brick had noticed the shift in his brother's expression; irritation at being berated replaced with concern, and maybe a little fear. The red ruff furrowed his brow. "Right… And that was it? He just told you I wasn't in Hell, and left?"

"Not exactly…" Butch said quietly.

"Well, to start with he started going on about 'Angels', or more detecting their presence…" Bubbles mumbled, looking over to her brunette sister.

Blossom's eyes had bulged at this admission. "He said you were 'Angels' as well?!"

"Well, he kind of hinted at it. Said he didn't know much about it but that we 'smelt like you', which - that's weird, right?" Buttercup said; Blossom was unsure whether to be offended or not.

"Smelt like me?!"

"One of Otis' Demon powers is olfactory system based." Brick briefly explained.

"Yeah, he's not saying you all stink. Just that apparently to him, you whiff of an Angel." Butch added. "Which sounds like a cheesy pick up line."

"So, what does that mean?" Blossom said, fear rising in her at the idea of her sisters being in as much danger from Him as she apparently was.

"We don't really know. And neither did Otis. He didn't confirm it, he didn't really say if Him had confirmed it to be true either.. He said Him hadn't really spoken to him about it - so he didn't think it was a route he was interested in." Boomer explained, hating how upset Blossom looked by this news, because he did not have better news to follow…

"However, he did tell us something else Him has planned…" Butch said. Rose and crimson eyes clicked onto him.

"What?" Brick asked. "What did he tell you?"

"Him reckons in 7-12 years, you guys are gunna pop out a rugrat." Butch continued, putting it nice and delicately for them. "And when you do, he wants it."

Buttercup patted him on the arm firmly. "Tactfully done."

Boomer pulled his hands through his blonde waves with a sigh. Blossom and Brick looked surprised by this news, but not as shocked as they'd anticipated. This was mostly because it wasn't exactly news to them both - Him had already discussed aspects of this with them 6 months ago when he'd dragged them both to the depths of Hell.

"He, he told you that?" Blossom asked, her pink eyes flitting from Butch then to Boomer. "In 7-12 years?"

"That's apparently what Him has seen. And it's what he's waiting for. He says you're going to have a little girl, and he wants her - says she'll 'do great things'." Boomer said, forlorn.

"Otis said Him won't be coming for either of you until then." Bubbles added.

Blossom looked at Brick, stricken. A small pause ensued that Boomer broke.

"Gotta say, I was expecting more of a shocked response."

"Yeah, I was shook - still am a bit. I mean - I didn't think baby's would be a thing for us, being engineered in a lab and all. Especially with these guys as the other half of the mix - made in a jail toilet then resurrected by the Devil. Yet according to Him it is possible. Then there's the whole baby snatching thing." Buttercup added, receiving a dark look from Bubbles.

"What were you saying about tact?" The blonde puff asked her.

"The whole kid thing isn't exactly news to us." Brick said, and now they all looked shocked as they stared at the two redheads.

"You knew?!" Bubbles shrieked. "Why didn't you tell us?!"

"You've not promised him your first born or something have you?!" Boomer yelped.

"Of course not!" Blossom cried. "And please keep your voice down!" She glanced over at the doorway of the living area. "When Him took us to Hell and tried to implement his plan last year, we purposefully left a part of that plan out…"

"Why?!" Boomer asked.

"Because - it's fucked up!" Brick replied simply. "And we knew it wouldn't happen. Him believed he saw us standing beside him and working with him, as well as a little girl - a daughter of ours. But it's all bullshit. All of his visions are."

"You're not worried?" Bubbles questioned; the red ruff simply shook his head.

"No, I'm not. Him's visions are nonsense. They never come to fruition. He foresaw us killing you three when we were kids, so he resurrected us - that's solely why he did that - it didn't happen. He foresaw me becoming a Demon and working alongside Him and Blossom - partially happened, I was a Demon, but only because he got me in a position where it was unavoidable. And I don't have horns to this day, so technically it still didn't happen as he foresaw. And that's just two examples. Come on Boomer, Butch - he was always foreseeing shit that went nowhere."

Boomer and Butch considered his words for a second, eventually both nodding and shrugging their agreement.

Blossom didn't look as assured as her counterpart, which everyone had noticed, including Brick.

"Look, it's disturbing - I'm not denying that. But we really don't need to worry about it." He concluded, and Blossom nodded slowly. "At least we know he's not going to come for us for a long time, just like Otis told me."

"Yes. You're right. You're probably right… And to be honest - Buttercup has a point too. We don't even know if reproduction is viable for any of us. Can someone who was created not born physically procreate? It doesn't seem logical to me… We're also not exactly in any kind of position to be planning to test that theory out, so, I suppose we don't need to worry about it." Blossom surmised, and Brick nodded his agreement. "Plus, we're 18! I don't - I'm not in any place to -"

"And neither am I. Really, it's no big deal. He wants to chase this path? Let him. It's not going to happen." Brick said firmly. Blossom nodded, still not fully assured.

"You really don't think we can have babies?" Bubbles queried, and the pink puff shrugged.

"I wouldn't know for definite.. But good god, do not ask the Professor, he'll have kittens." Blossom cried, and Bubbles giggled.

"But seriously! If I've been having periods for the past 7 years for nothing I'm not going to be happy." Bubbles declared, folding her arms across her chest.

"Oh my god can you imagine how cute our baby would be if we had one?" Boomer gasped, his eyes widening with joy. "It'd be so cute, people would die. That would be its super power."

Bubbles giggled. "Ohh you're so right! All blonde and curly, I bet." She flicked one of his waves as she spoke.

Buttercup grimaced at the image in her head. "Please don't. Can you imagine the racket that kid'd make? What with the supersonic lungs it'd inherit? No thank you."

"It wouldn't compare to the chaotic kid you and Butch would create. That thing would destroy the city with one tantrum." Boomer came back with, eliciting an eye roll from the green puff and a grin from his raven haired brother.

"Don't, I'm not carrying his Devil spawn." Buttercup replied as Butch squished her up beside him more.

"Aww come on, they'd be cool as fuck - half you, half me. What a dangerous combo." Butch joked; his girlfriend was unable to not crack a smile.

"Exactly. We should resist for the good of mankind."

Butch laughed in response.

Blossom smiled uneasily as her sisters and Brick's brothers made jokes about make-believe babies. She tried to join in, but it wasn't easy. The image of the red haired, red eyed little girl Him had shown them months ago danced in her head, and it wasn't easy to shake off.

Him wasn't coming for Blossom. He was coming for her, for that little girl - or so he thought anyway. In 7-12 years time, apparently.

Brick wasn't worried. It was completely false in his eyes, or so he seemed to insist. And he was right, right?

He was right. She didn't need to worry about it. She was 18 years old, and did not need to worry or even think about this. Right?

---

The status quo at Townsville High school was facing significant changes when school went back after the winter break. In fact, that was putting it lightly. A big shift had occurred for the Senior year cohort - a change so big it had left one particularly high ranking social group feeling clueless and a little lost.

After all, their fearless leader had fallen. Princess Morbucks was no longer a student at Townsville High school - she was no longer a student at any high school, in fact. What were her friends, Melissa Stewarts, Sandy Boister, Ashleigh Lee, Candy Dotton and Clara Scott to do without her?

The five girls stood clustered to the side of the corridor nearest their homeroom class as they waited for their teacher to arrive to let them in. All of them looked on at their classmates, or more eyeing up the Powerpuff girls and their counterparts, who were up near the beginning of the queue with their friends.

"I can't believe this… I mean, Princess is in prison because of her." Clara said in hushed tones, swiping her mane of golden highlights behind her back.

"No she isn't!" Sandy cried immediately.

"Yet." Ashleigh conceded. "Come on, it's where she's heading. She kidnapped a dude."

"She didn't kidnap a dude - she kidnapped a Rowdyruff boy. It's totally different! She won't go to prison!" Sandy bit back with, but was for the most part ignored.

"At least she's back in the states again now." Melissa mumbled. "She's better off being sentenced here then where she was arrested."

"Why?" Clara asked, doe-eyed.

Melissa swallowed, before shrugging. "I don't know - she just is! They'll charge her fairer here, I bet."

Clara blinked at her. "That sounds a little racist..."

"Well, whatever. Ms Morbucks told my Mom they've extra-dieted her and Meeks back here, so she'll be sentenced in Townsville." Melissa explained, tucking a strand of ash blonde hair behind her ear.

"Extradited, Mel, Jesus…" Ashleigh corrected her with a sigh.

"Whatever." She huffed.

"That was quick…" Clara murmured.

"They have money." Ashleigh shrugged.

"She won't go to prison." Sandy said firmly.

"She will." Ashleigh promptly replied.

"Maybe one of those fancy rehab places?" Candy reasoned, attempting to reassure her friend.

"Poor Princess…" Sandy sighed, her gaze training on Blossom Utonium, standing beside her boyfriend and friends. "So, what now?"

"What do you mean?" Clara blinked.

"What do we do now? Now that Princess is gone…?"

Ashleigh's dark brown eyes narrowed as they flickered from Blossom to Buttercup Utonium respectively. "Oh, I'm sure I can think of some things. For Little Miss Priss, and her ratchet sister."

Clara glanced from Blossom to Buttercup, then to Bubbles. "Wait, what? Bubbles? But, she's so cute and smiley."

"Not the cute and smiley one - the nasty, scowl-y one." Ashleigh muttered, glaring at the raven haired teen.

"Oh. The one dating your ex?" Clara asked, tone oblivious.

Ashleigh glowered harder. "Yes. That one. We're shifting our aim a little. Let's make her life hell."

"But, why? Blossom is the one who -"

"Because I said so!" Ashleigh snapped, her hands firmly holding the reins now. Melissa, Clara, Candy and Sandy exchanged looks, before nodding obediently.

---

"Can we settle down please?" Miss Hearn called across the classroom her senior year class was contained in. "Come on, I know you're all so excited to be back after winter break - but I need to do roll call and I have a couple of things I need to tell you all before you head off to your first class."

The hubbub of chatter died down as Miss Hearn cleared her throat to address the class. "Thank you. Now, firstly, welcome back - I hope you're all ready to get your heads down and work extra hard this semester as, well, it's a big one. Your last one. Secondly, I would like to introduce you all to a new student in our class, Sebastián Lopéz." She directed her arm towards the seat Princess Morbucks once occupied.

There sat a nervous looking teenage boy; he had dark olive skin, his brown hair almost black, with sparkling blue eyes. Nervously, he waved to the class, before looking back down at the desktop he sat at.

"Sebastián has just moved to town from Arizona, please give him a warm Townsville High welcome. Bubbles, I'd like you to keep an eye on Sebastián for the first few days, just to help him find his feet. He's in all the same classes as you, so if you could show him the ropes that would be great. I know I can trust you to look after him." Miss Hearn said, indicating who Bubbles was for Sebastián's benefit. She nodded happily, turning and waving to Sebastián in a friendly way. He smiled back, feeling automatically relieved by her kind blue eyes.

Boomer looked from Sebastián to Bubbles, immediately feeling a stab of… something, deep in his chest. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.

What Miss Hearn went on to say to the class was lost on the blue ruff, he was too busy sending a scrutinising stare the new kid's way. The bell went, dismissing them all to their first class. But Boomer didn't move, it was as if he was cemented to his seat. He watched on as Bubbles got up, approaching Sebastián's desk and presenting her hand for him to shake, her expression warm.

Sebastián grinned in a shy manner, the relief still clear in his face as they exchanged pleasantries. Bubbles turned in Boomer's direction then, and he realised he was staring.

He looked away sharply just as she called his name. "Boomie! Come meet Sebastián!"

Stiffly, Boomer got to his feet, walking over to Bubbles and slapping a sham of a smile onto his face. "This is Boomer - my boyfriend." The blonde hooked her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his arm affectionately. "Boomer, this is Sebastián."

Boomer immediately curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, the motion territorial in its delivery. However, this was lost on the blue puff, who squeaked slightly at the motion; she'd been leaning on his arm seconds before, but smiled, leaning into him once more.

"Hey." Boomer said simply, zero warmth in his expression as he looked Sebastián up and down.

Sebastián swallowed a little, but nodded. "Hey, nice to meet you."

"You too. Hey, so we better get to class." Boomer said, kissing the top of Bubbles' head.

"Right! Physics first, right?" Bubbles queried, her question aimed at Sebastián, who glanced down at the timetable clutched in his hand.

"Yeah, that's right. I umm, have no idea where the class is though -" He mumbled, until Bubbles cut him off.

"We'll show you!" She told him brightly, turning to look at Boomer.

"Oh Bubbles -" Miss Hearn interrupted, causing all three to look over at her. "I've spoken with Mr Tiller, you can take the first period to show Sebastián around. You know, give him a guided tour. Just so if he loses you or whatever during the day he'll have a bit of a better idea of where he is and where he needs to be."

Boomer's face fell.

"Oh, okay - that's cool."

"Boomer - you better head to class, or you'll be late." Miss Hearn continued, before looking back down at her laptop.

The blue ruff frowned deeply, his arm around Bubbles' waist remaining firm. A kiss on his cheek distracted him. "Guess we'll see you in Art?"

"I guess so." He mumbled, as Sebastián got to his feet and slung his backpack onto his back. He was pretty tall; only an inch or two shorter than Boomer.

The blue puff gave Boomer a brief hug, before turning towards the new kid.

"Ready for the grand tour?" She asked pleasantly, and he chuckled.

"Yeah - I'm so glad somebody's going to show me around. This place is muy grande -" He stopped himself short as a bit of Spanish slipped out.

But Bubbles' sky blue eyes widened. "¿Puedes hablar español?"

Sebastián smiled vastly. "¿Puedes hablar español?"

"Sí!" Bubbles cried, before continuing to speak in Spanish fluently as she left the classroom with Sebastián, both of them talking rapidly in a language Boomer couldn't understand. It did not bring him any reassurance. In fact, it just made the weird stabby pain feel worse.

"Boomer!"

His name being barked out by the teacher brought Boomer back to reality with a jolt. She tapped her watch, then pointed to the door. Swiftly, the blue ruff left the classroom, frowning deeply.

---

"Go off, just go off, please, so we can get the hell out of here." Buttercup muttered, clutching at her hotline device and speaking to it, urging it to chime and give her a one way ticket out of school.

"It's lunch break, BC. You're already begging to get out of here?" Harry asked with a chuckle.

"You're not?" Buttercup replied as they wandered down the corridors of Townsville High, heading to the cafeteria. "I'm so done with school now. Can't wait to leave." The green puff pocketed her hotline huffily.

"What if I buy you french fries for lunch?" Butch suggested; the offer producing a small smile on the brunettes lips. "Smiles for french fries?"

"I guess that'll help. Hey, what's going on with my locker?" She mumbled, turning and heading towards it; she'd just noticed what looked like paper sticking out of it. When it was in arms reach, the green puff grabbed a hold of the sheet, yanking it out.

"What the fuck?!" She cried, as her pale lime eyes scanned the printout she held in her hand. It was a pornagraphic image - a slim, nude caucasian woman with small but perky breasts, laid on her back with her legs wide apart. She was being entered by a muscular white man with a pretty large penis, but that was basically all of him you could see. This alone was a strange thing to be posted through her locker, but it got worse: where this woman's head should have been, was a picture of Buttercup's head. Amateurly photoshopped, it looked like a photo of her from her FaceSpace account that had been cropped and then badly placed on top of this woman's head. Underneath in bold capital letters it read: BUTTERSLUT. How creative, she thought tiresomely.

"Whoa." Butch said as he joined her side by her locker.

"Oh my." Louie mumbled.

"My eyes!" Harry cried, covering them. "I didn't mean to look, I'm so sorry!"

"It's not me, you idiot! It's photoshopped. Badly." She exclaimed, thrusting the piece of paper into Butch's hands before opening her locker. The moment she did, several pieces of paper cascaded to the floor and danced across the busy corridor. Each one had the same image and word printed onto it.

Other students stood on or over the papers, glancing down at them and giggling or whispering to one another.

"It's not - it's not me!" Buttercup cried in despair once more, bending down to scoop as many as she could up. Butch, Harry, Louie and Mitch did the same, scrambling about to gather them all up before anyone else got a hold of a copy.

"Who the fuck would do something like this?" Mitch asked, averting his eyes from the picture that peered up at him from the pile he held in his arms. "I mean, what's the point? God, I feel bad looking at it, like looking at my sister getting boned or something."

"Mitch, it's not me!" Buttercup cried once again. "Some fucker has put my head on a screenshot from a porno."

"Yeah - this is insulting." Butch cried, looking down at the picture.

"Yeah - it is!" Buttercup agreed.

"I mean, you're way hotter than this chick. She's so scrawny. No muscle. Also your titties be way bigger." Butch declared. "And I would know!" Buttercup sent a flat stare his way, but he was undeterred. "It's true!"

With an exasperated sigh, she opened her arms for them to place the papers into. "Who the hell did this? I mean, it's so pathetic. And you wonder why I'm fucking done with this place. All of them, Butch."

"Yeah, you're right." Butch agreed, placing the one he'd kept and was looking at into the pile. "It's weird - half of me is pissed off and jealous looking at this, the other half of me is getting some movement down south, even though I know it's not you - is there something wrong with me?"

Mitch, Louie and Harry stifled their laughter; Buttercup cracked a brief smile, unable to not. "Yes, but we all knew that already. Seriously though, who do you think did this? Seems like the sort of thing Princess - oh wait, she's not here anymore is she? That's going to take some getting used to. This is the exact sort of stunt her and her cronies would pull. They did something similar to Blossom a few years ago."

The green puff looked around, being sure there were no stray sheets laying on the ground before heading towards the courtyard near the canteen, her friends following her. The moment she got outside, she dumped all but one into the nearest trash can. Quickly, Buttercup scoped around in search of teachers, before using her eye rays to burn them into dust; there was no way she was leaving them in the trash for someone else to spy and pull out.

The hand on her hip gripped the piece she'd saved, and she folded it up small, before stuffing it into her pocket.

"Maybe it was her cronies?" Mitch suggested, glancing over at the table Princess had formerly taken claim to. Her friends were still sitting at it; Preston and his goons were also sitting at the table next to it that they'd marked as theirs.

Buttercup looked at their 'area' of the cafeteria, cranking a brow. "What the hell did I do to them though? Besides hating their fucking guts and wishing they'd all die a slow and painful death."

"Beats me." Mitch shrugged. Louie, Mitch and Harry joined the table they usually sat at; Blossom, Brick, Boomer, Bubbles, Robin, Kim, Mike and the new kid, Sebastián, were already there.

Buttercup and Butch joined the queue; she hadn't forgotten about his promise of fried goods to cheer her up - and she felt like she needed it even more now. As they waited in line, the green puff looked over at the table formerly dominated by Princess Morbucks. At the same time, Ashleigh Lee happened to look over. She smiled in a sadistic manner. Buttercup glared at her.

Yeah, it definitely had Princess' cronies' names written all over it. Or at least one of them.

---

When Boomer returned from the restroom his seat next to Bubbles had been taken by Kim and her boyfriend Kenny. In fact, there was no room left to sit down at the table Bubbles was eating her lunch at at all now; the stupid new kid was on the other side of her, and Harry, Mitch, Louie and Mike were sitting opposite them. They were all chatting animatedly to Sebastián. The blue ruff's brow furrowed at the sight.

The table along that they also usually made a beeline for was being used by Brick, Blossom and Robin; with a pout, he sat down opposite his brother, angling his head to glance at his girlfriend as he did.

"Hey Boomer," Robin said, noting Boomer didn't peel his eyes off Bubbles to respond. "Are you okay? You've been a little quieter than normal today. Missing Bubbles?" The brunette smiled in a knowing way. Boomer pouted even more.

"Well, it's not like I've actually seen any of her today, is it?" He replied, his expression as sulky as he sounded. "She's been too busy with the new kid."

"Miss Hearn asked her to look after him." Robin shrugged. "He seems really nice."

"Oh I'm sure he's great." Boomer replied gruffly. Robin struggled to hold back the little giggle that had built up in her chest. It was kind of ridiculous, seeing the 6 foot 3, brawny blonde pouting like a child.

"Are you maybe feeling a little jealous?" She asked him delicately.

"No." He bit out instantly.

"Liar." Brick said, and the blue ruff glared at him.

"I'm not jealous - what do I have to be jealous about? She's my girlfriend - and has been for over a year. We're in love - she's my counterpart - they've just met!" Boomer cried, and Brick nodded.

"Exactly. So stop being jealous."

Boomer pouted harder, his cobalt eyes flitting over to Bubbles once more. "Why have they gotta keep talking in Spanish though?"

"Because they both speak Spanish?" Brick guessed, but Boomer wasn't satisfied with that answer.

"Well, I can't understand Spanish." He cocked his head closer to Brick. "Brick - what are they saying?" He lowered his voice as he asked.

Brick cranked a brow, but kept his expression neutral. "He's asking her to dump the blonde, I'm guessing that's you, and run away with him to Cuba."

In what Brick could only describe as perfect timing, Bubbles replied to whatever Sebastián had actually asked her with an enthusiastic "Sí!".

After a blink, Brick continued. "She's saying yes."

Boomer's mouth fell open. "What?!" He yelped, devastated.

"I don't speak Spanish, dumb ass." Brick told him, before taking a bite of his sandwich. Boomer flashed him a dark look as both Robin and Blossom giggled.

The pink puff reached forward and patted Boomer's hand reassuringly. "Well I do, and they're talking about art, not running away together. He asked her if she'd heard of Charlotte Posenenske, and she said yes. Chill out. You know Bubbles, she's kind and friendly to everyone. She's just being nice, he's new."

Boomer sighed, nodding slowly. He supposed Blossom was right. It still didn't make that feeling in his chest go.

Brick wiped at his mouth with his hand and looked over at his girlfriend, his lids lowering as he did. "You speak Spanish?"

"Puedo hablar muchos idiomas diferentes." She told him, watching a smile creep up his lips.

"Hmm. Je trouve ça assez sexy." He drawled in fluent French, leaning a little closer to her as he did.

The pink puff had definitely caught the word sexy. Catching the gist of what he was saying, she cocked a brow at him. "¿Vos si?" She asked, as Boomer groaned loudly.

"Urgh, stop it you two, you're gunna make me throw up my lunch." He complained, as Blossom and Robin giggled. Brick smirked, leaning forward to catch Blossom's lips with his - Boomer complained more.

The loud grumbling coming from Boomer's table had distracted Bubbles from her conversation with Sebastián, and when she looked over she noted how miserable the blonde ruff looked. She frowned, excusing herself and getting up, squeezing onto the end of the table beside Boomer. He sat up sharply upon noticing her sitting beside him now.

"Hi stranger." She cried, smiling sweetly at him.

"Hi." He replied simply, and she furrowed her brow at him.

"Everything okay?" She asked, not taking her bright blue eyes off his face as she awaited his response.

"He's all pouty cos you're talking to a boy that's not him." Brick replied helpfully.

"No I'm not!" Boomer complained as Bubbles sucked in her lips in an attempt to not laugh. "Shut the fuck up Brick!"

Brick's eyes flashed at his brother in a challenging manner, his enjoyment from winding him up was clear. But Boomer was just beginning to lose his temper - and whilst he didn't lose it often, he did have a temper.

"Hey - didn't we need to go do that thing?" Robin asked, widening her eyes at Blossom and nodding.

Blossom nodded back instantly, getting to her feet. "Oh god, you're right. Come on." She pulled Brick to his feet too.

"What thing?" Brick asked confusedly.

"The thing." Robin replied, like it was obvious.

"Ven conmigo mi amor." Blossom purred, immediately shutting Brick up and sending him into a small but efficient stupor.

"Uhh, sure." He mumbled in response as the three of them left the cafeteria, unsure what she'd said but willing to follow her anywhere, leaving Boomer and Bubbles alone at the table.

Bubbles giggled, before turning to face the blonde ruff sitting beside her. His entire body language was standoffish, closed off. She knew something was up; Brick had clearly touched a nerve.

"Boomie, are you okay?" Bubbles asked softly, pushing a blonde wave from his face to peer at him better.

"I'm fine." He mumbled in a voice that said the opposite.

"Oh, okay... Hey, you know Robin's invited us all over Thursday night?" He nodded. "She's invited Seb to come hangout at hers too. That'll be nice, huh?"

"He's Seb now?" Boomer asked bluntly. Bubbles blinked in response.

"He prefers to go by Seb.. Boomer, you're not maybe feeling a little, I dunno, jealous, are you?" She asked gently, looking over to Sebastián, who was chatting with Mitch, Mike, Louie and Harry, then back to her boyfriend.

"No." He said firmly. She knew he was lying.

"Boomie!" She cried, throwing her arms around him. "You don't need to be jealous!"

"I'm not!" He insisted, unmoving to her embrace.

"Oh, you need to work on that." She told him, snuggling against his stiff form.

"What?!"

"You need to work on that - there's nothing to worry about! I'm just being nice, because I am nice. And he's new - and being the new kid can be scary, you know that." She told him, feeling him soften a little. He leant his head on top of hers.

"But I'm your new kid you have to look after." He mumbled in the most pathetic, small voice that almost made her heart break in two.

"Oh my gosh," She gasped, taking his face in her hands and making him look at her. "You're adorable. Don't be jelly, it's all good, I promise. I love you, remember?"

"I love you too." He told her, as she pecked him on the lips.

"Seb is really nice, maybe you could get a new friend too if you try being nice yourself, and don't be so guarded." She suggested. He made a non-commital noise back. "God, you're too cute. Stop worrying and relax, everything's fine!"

"Yeah, I know." He replied, sighing lightly. "I'm not worried. I'm fine." He didn't sound very convincing.

---

The sound of the front door opening distracted Professor Utonium from the résumé he was reading over; one quick glance at the clock on the kitchen wall indicated it was one or all of his girls home from school, given it had not long gone 3pm.

Seconds later the familiar sound of their chatter filtered through the house and he smiled warmly, trying to push the thought of how much longer this would last as their time at school slowly waned to the back of his mind. The hand that rested atop Professor Winter's beside him moved nervously as he heard movement coming towards the kitchen.

Slightly stung, Professor Winter caught it in her hand and held it firmly on top of the table, watching as his cheeks reddened and he cleared his throat awkwardly. She knew he wanted to take things slowly, and she was absolutely okay with that - but his daughters were no fools. They'd figure it out; especially if she gave them little clues here and there.

Professor Winter smiled affectionately as he placed the papers he was holding down onto the table. They were looking through applications for the replacement for Professor Hale. But now he knew the girls were home; it was the last thing on his mind. "That must be the girls. Hopefully they've had a good first day back after a particularly taxing winter break." He murmured, his mind mostly on his redheaded daughter. He'd noticed how much her and Brick's ordeal had shaken her, as much as she downplayed the entire thing now she was home and it was seemingly over.

The news that Melvin and Princess were back in the states and negotiating plea deals had clearly bothered her, as much as she'd tried to brush it off.

The Professor was just mad about the entire thing now. How much more could one kid antagonize his daughter? To think he'd considered doing business with the Meeks not that long ago. The idea thoroughly ruffled him.

"Hi Professor! Hi Vanessa!" Bubbles cried as she hovered through to the kitchen, Boomer not far behind, as was the norm.

Vanessa waved at the two blondes happily, feeling a blush on her own cheeks as Bubbles eyed their holding hands and somehow managed to keep her excitement at the sight contained.

"Buttercup! Blossom!" She yelped much too enthusiastically. "Get in here!"

Awkwardly, the Professor cleared his throat again as Professor Winter smiled and hid behind her ebony curls. "Bubbles, Boomer - did you have a good day?"

"Mhmm!" Bubbles cried, guiding Boomer over to the table to sit down next to Professor Winter, whom he smiled at kind of awkwardly, before nodding curtly at the Professor. Without her prompting, she knew he'd just stand like a spare part and try to not do anything that might bug the Professor - they were so jumpy around him. "It was pretty uneventful. We have a new kid in our grade." Her tone changed slightly as she mentioned Seb. "He seems pretty nice. But yeah - just a run of the mill kind of day. And now Princess is gone, I predict that'll be the new normal."

Blossom, Buttercup, Butch and Brick hovered through then.

"What's the matter?" Buttercup asked, before greeting Professor Utonium and Professor Winter. She spied their holding hands, and turned to look at her blonde sister, smirking. Blossom did the same, but rolled her eyes, knowing that was the reason behind her sister's urgency to get them in there.

"Nothing - I just wondered if you guys wanted tea, or juice or something?" Bubbles replied innocently.

"Blossom, how was your first day back? Did everything go okay? Did Principal Dixon call you in to talk?" Professor Utonium asked, concern evident in his voice.

"It was fine, Professor. He did call me in to talk, yes -" The pink puff answered, nonchalant.

"My day was fine too, thanks for asking." Buttercup muttered, grabbing the juice carton from the fridge and chugging straight from it. Bubbles hissed at her to not to drink from the carton like an animal, but she was ignored.

"Did you take up his suggestion?" The Professor asked delicately. Blossom felt her face flush.

"No." She replied bluntly. "I did not. I don't need to."

Brick cranked a brow; he had no idea what they were talking about. Principal Dixon had called her in to talk, Blossom had said it was just to check in after winter break. He'd wondered if it had been about what happened, but the fact he wasn't called in either had made him assume it was school related.

"I think a couple of sessions with the guidance counselor would be good for you." The Professor said gently, and Blossom looked mortified he had brought that up in front of everyone. She really hadn't wanted anyone to know about Principal Dixon suggesting she meet with the school guidance counselor once a week for a month to help her 'process' what had happened with Melvin and Princess. She'd had a feeling it was her father behind the idea, too. "It wouldn't be forever, just for a month or so -"

"I'm fine." She snapped. "Honestly, I really don't need to do that."

So it had been about the Cayman Islands. For a second Brick wondered why he hadn't been offered some counseling either, but then he reminded himself he had no concerned parent fighting his corner like Blossom did. Everyone, Principal Dixon included, likely assumed he could handle what happened on his own.

Well, they were right. He was fine. He always was.

The Professor sighed lightly as he nodded, the worry still clear on his face. Professor Winter squeezed his hand. "Okay sweetheart. If you insist."

A short silence filled the room; it was heavy.

Buttercup decided to break it. "Miss Evans is a pretty crappy guidance counselor anyway. How can you take advice from a woman who has 11 cats - and photos of them all in little costumes on the walls of her office?"

"Ohh I think the cat photos are cute!" Bubbles cried. "Mr Tiggles with the top hat is my favourite."

"Like I said, someone who should be receiving help, not giving it." Buttercup reiterated.

"Did you have a good day, Buttercup?" The Professor asked as Bubbles giggled whilst preparing refreshments. "Managed to keep out of trouble?"

The green puff leant against the fridge, her hip jutting out at the motion. "I'm offended you'd even ask, dear father. I always stay away from trouble." She folded her arms across her chest, Ashleigh Lee and her little stunt heavy on her mind. "Trouble has a good way of finding me, that's all."

"Hmm, don't I know it." The Professor agreed, his brown eyes drifting over to the tall drink of troublesome water that was her counterpart - and boyfriend. He smiled a little sheepishly at him. "Did trouble find you today?"

"Ish." She murmured after some consideration. "Hey, did I get any mail?" The green puff hovered over to the pile on the table by all the documents her father and his colleague were perusing. "I never get any mail."

"Yes, actually. You all did, a prospectus from Townsville University, and Townsville Community College." The Professor replied, removing his hand from Vanessa's to go through the pile.

"Oh." Buttercup said, clearly disappointed by that news as a couple of booklets were placed into her hands.

"Now, now - this is certainly worth looking through and thinking about very hard. You've all been offered 'Protectors of Townsville' Community Service Scholarships at both these fine establishments - that's a fantastic opportunity for all six of you." The Professor said as he took his seat at the table once more.

"The art course at Townsville Community College looks great!" Bubbles gushed. "Mrs Clark took us to visit for a field trip last semester and the Art School there was so cool wasn't it Boomie?"

Boomer glanced over the prospectus with a small shrug. "Yeah, it looked great…"

Bubbles cocked her head to the side and flashed her boyfriend a disapproving look. "Boomie, we've talked about this…"

"I just can't see myself doing very well at college, that's all. It feels like I'm not even going to pass school." He mumbled gloomily.

"Of course you will. Stop being so pessimistic." Brick told him, and Boomer sent an incredulous stare his way.

"Coming from you?!"

"Brick is right! You'll absolutely ace Art School! You're an amazing artist! And we'd be there together, supporting each other. Plus, it's only a 2 year course. And it's in Townsville - we could do Project:Protect alongside studying." Bubbles cried. "You've gotta stop being so hard on yourself!"

"I agree, you're a talented artist Boomer, as is my Bubbles. A course like that at Townsville Community College would be great for both of you to do alongside your duties to the city." Professor Utonium said; the blue ruff felt his face heat up.

"Thank you, sir." He murmured, not used to being complimented by the Professor. He wasn't exactly mean to the blue ruff, or his brothers. It was hard to say he was nice either. More, indifferent. Like, he liked them, but he'd also destroy them if they hurt his daughters.

Butch was now standing beside Buttercup by the refrigerator, looking through one of the booklets and feigning interest. They'd not really had the conversation about what came next once school was over. A part of Butch had been dreading it; because continuing on in study was not his bag. And he didn't know if Buttercup would push for him to do so.

Little did he know, Buttercup felt the same.

"What about you, Buttercup? Butch? Anything catching your eye?" Professor Utonium asked; his brunette daughter shrugged.

"Not really. To be perfectly honest, I don't think college or uni are calling my name at all." Buttercup said; her father frowned.

"You've been offered scholarships - it would be silly to turn that down."

"I really don't know how I feel about 2-4 more years of education. I'm done with that whole system. I also have a basically full time job already. Why do I need to continue studying when I already got regular bank coming in?" The green puff asked.

"Because an opportunity some would kill for has been handed to you both: a funded college education. So at the very least you should consider it." Professor Utonium said sternly.

"Maybe. I'd rather put my time into something I'm interested in… And I hate school and learning. It makes me feel dumb."

"You're not dumb." Blossom said firmly.

Butch felt relieved. "I've gotta admit I totally agree..."

"College and University isn't like school." Professor Winter spoke now. "It's something done out of choice." This comment was aimed at the Professor too. "Which means you can choose something that does interest you. Are there any good music courses available? You're both very capable musicians after all."

"I dunno." Buttercup shrugged, knowing there probably was, but not wanting to actually look.

"Townsville Community College does a 1 year course in Music Production." Blossom answered for her, smiling sweetly at the glare Buttercup had sent her way.

"Well, that's something to consider, surely?" Professor Utonium proposed. Both Buttercup and Butch shrugged.

"I guess so. What about you Miss Smartypants? How are you going to manage to do every course available as well as save the day, hmm?" Buttercup asked her sister, who sent her an irked stare.

"I'm obviously not applying for every course available." Blossom replied bluntly.

"What courses are you interested in, Blossom?"

The redhead chewed on her bottom lip momentarily as she flicked through the Townsville University prospectus. "I was thinking of studying criminal justice, or law enforcement. Or maybe biomedical science."

"That sounds fitting. What about you Brick?" Vanessa asked.

"Something similar. Maybe biomedical or biological science.. Although, I'm not really sure to be honest." And he was being honest. All he really knew was that he wanted to go wherever she went. Which he felt was a little pathetic, but it was true. College or university wasn't something he ever considered he'd be looking into at any point in his life.

Yet, here he was.

It didn't seem real. It didn't feel earnt. It made him feel strange.

And now he was here he had no clue what to do or where to go next. Him, Brick Jojo, being offered any kind of scholarship almost seemed laughable to him. Impossible, too.

"Well, you should both definitely take up something. Like Bubbles and Boomer have said, you can study here in Townsville whilst continuing your duties to the city. It's a no brainer in my eyes. Oh Blossom, that reminds me - there's another letter here for you; it looked important." Professor Utonium said, reaching forward to hand a white envelope to the pink puff.

Blossom's stomach turned as she anticipated it was something to do with Melvin, Princess and the Cayman Islands. But those fears were quashed the moment the letter was placed in her hand; the emblem by the stamp was not from the police or anything similar. It was from a university. Monkston University to be exact. She'd applied on a bit of a whim, never for a second thinking she'd actually get in.

This was likely a rejection letter. With a shaky inhale, she opened it, her eyes immediately finding the words 'offer you a place' in the typing.

"Oh my gosh…" She said breathily.

"What is it?" Bubbles asked curiously.

"It's from Monkston University… I, I got in. I, I can't believe it. I got in." She replied, shocked. "On scholarship, too."

"Monkston University? Isn't that in New York?" The Professor asked, a little doubt in his voice at the idea of one of his precious babies going off to the other side of the country.

"Yeah, I really didn't think I'd get in…"

"Why wouldn't you get in?! You're the smartest girl in Townsville! Blossom, well done!" Bubbles cried, throwing her arms around her sister.

"I didn't realise you applied." Brick murmured, catching the acceptance letter as Blossom dropped it when Bubbles flung herself at her.

"I did. I really didn't think that - oh my god, that reminds me! We need to go to your place! We need to check your mail!" She cried.

Brick's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?"

"Because, well - don't be mad." She said, and he waited for her to continue, hoping what she was going to say next didn't make him mad - he was very aware the Professor was in the vicinity and likely watching him closely right now. "I kind of, sort of sent your application off to Monkston, too. Even though you were skeptical about the whole thing..."

Brick managed to keep his expression neutral, for the most part - maybe besides a little tic of one eyebrow. "You sent off an application for me to Monkston University in New York?"

"Uh huh…" She waited for a response but then realised this was it.

"Right. Well, I guess we better go check my mail…" He said with a slightly resigned sigh. She smiled brightly at him.

---

"I can't fucking believe they offered me a place. On a fucking scholarship too. I mean, what the hell is going on? Don't people look people up on the internet anymore? One quick search of my name online should not pull up someone you offer a scholarship to." Brick cried, dragging a hand through his hair with the hand not holding the letter from Monkston University.

Blossom smiled proudly at him. "Have you searched for your name recently? I mean, what are you expecting to find? 'Brick Jojo, member of Team X, protector of Townsville, dating Blossom Utonium - devilishly handsome.'" Her eyelids lowered at her last comment and he couldn't help but smirk at her briefly. "It's not going to say 'wanted criminal' immediately at the top anymore. Things have changed. You got offered this because you deserve this! I mean your grades speak for themself."

He didn't say anything, just looked over the letter one more time as they stood in the downstairs hall of his apartment building, next to their mailbox. She peered over at the letter too and sighed lightly.

"I'm speechless that I got in - that we got in. But, I guess I should probably consider studying at Townsville."

Brick sent a baffled look her way. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's not exactly feasible is it? As amazing as it would be." She murmured, a little forlorn.

"Why not?"

"Because.. Townsville. Townsville needs us." Her tone was as though it was blatantly obvious why she couldn't go to Monkston University in New York.

The red ruff looked even more confused by her words. "Townsville has Bubbles, Boomer, Butch and Buttercup. It'll be absolutely fine. There's no obligation, remember?"

"So everyone keeps saying - but I still feel obligated. I still am obligated -"

"Why would you, why should you put your life on hold for a city like Townsville?" Brick asked her incredulously.

She frowned deeply. "It's my duty -"

"No one put this duty on you!" Brick cried in exasperation.

"Yes they did!"

"Only you did." He answered her instantly. "Come on Bloss, it's stupid behaving like that - and over what?!" The red ruff noticed a newspaper sticking out of one of his neighbor's mailboxes. He grabbed it, holding it out for her to see: it was the Townsville Tribunal, and sure enough there was an article about PACE protesting against Team X. "Why would you want to stay here to look after a town whose residents actively lobby against you?!"

She reached forward and snatched the paper from his hand. "Some citizens. Not all of them. Look, it's not practical! We'd have no money! If we did this, we'd have no way of earning - we have a paid job here in Townsville. If we did this, we'd have to get jobs as well as studying. And Monkston will not be a walk in the park! We'd have like no time to -"

"Don't act like that's it, it's not that and you know it's not that. That's not anything to do with why you're being like this. Do you want to study in New York? Do you want to go to Monkston?" He asked her, and she floundered a little.

"I don't know!" Eventually she cried.

"Why apply then? Why bother applying - for us both - if you don't know?"

"I don't know, okay?!"

"You applied because you want to go. You're not going to go because of a self imposed burden - a fucking ungrateful burden at that too. Don't be such a martyr and put yourself first for once." He told her plainly. She glowered at him.

"I am not a martyr."

He scoffed. "You're acting like one."

Her glare deepened. "Well you're acting like an asshole." And on that bombshell, she stormed off.

Brick's scarlet eyes widened slightly. Blossom Utonium had just swore at him. She called him an asshole.

A tiny, quiet voice in the back of his mind told him he'd behaved like one, but he ignored it. No, he was right. She knew he was right, that's why she was so pissed off with him.

Let her go and be mad. He was right, and she was wrong.

With a huff, Brick headed towards his apartment, the acceptance letter scrunched up in his palm.

---

The front door to the Powerpuff girls' home was ripped open and slammed shut with such force it came off one hinge, clattering loudly.

From the kitchen, the clunky sound of it abruptly being fixed was punctuated with a loud slam, followed by the whooshing sound of someone disappearing upstairs in a blur - ending with another slam; presumably the Powerpuff's bedroom door.

A short, tense silence ensued.

"Yeesh. Somebody's mad." Buttercup murmured.

"I'm guessing the Monkston thing didn't go down as she hoped…" Boomer muttered.

Bubbles sighed. "We'll go talk to her." She nodded toward her green eyed sister, who nodded back, the two of them flying off towards their bedroom.

Upon their exit, Butch and Boomer realised they'd been left in the company of just their girlfriend's father and Professor Winter; they both stiffened uncomfortably.

"John," Vanessa said; she'd noticed how wary the two teenage boys had suddenly become. "Shall we continue to look through these résumés and applications in your office? We've got a fair few more candidates to go over."

The Professor was looking over at the door, curious and concerned. "Well, maybe I should see what -"

She got to her feet, beginning to gather the papers up. "I'm sure Blossom and Brick are fine - they've probably just had a little disagreement. Her sisters are on it, all will be okay."

After a couple of seconds' consideration, the Professor got up as well and picked up what Professor Winter hadn't. "I suppose so…"

Both Butch and Boomer watched on, thankful expressions on their faces that Vanessa hadn't missed. She smiled at them both, before linking her hand through the Professor's and leading him away; he was quite too hypnotised by the action to respond in any way.

---

"Knock knock?" Boomer said as he simultaneously knocked on the door to the bedroom all three girls shared, opening the door a couple of seconds after.

"Oh now he knocks - when I'm about to get in the shower, nothing." Buttercup grumbled, referring to the summer the year before when Boomer had accidentally walked in on her getting changed. She was hovering between her sister's single beds.

The blue ruff scowled at her as he perched on his girlfriend's bed. "When are you gunna get over that?!"

"Never." She insisted with a pout; Bubbles, who was sitting beside Blossom on her bed, held back the giggle threatening to erupt out of her throat. She'd found the entire thing quite hilarious.

Butch came up behind Buttercup, cupping both her breasts in his hands. "I vow to protect them with my life!"

She elbowed him off of her, but couldn't help but giggle at his ridiculousness.

"So err, is everything okay?" Boomer questioned, trying to change the subject.

Bubbles quickly recounted what happened for the two ruffs' benefit.

"Well, do you wanna go?" Boomer asked the redhead. After a little huff, she shrugged.

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I didn't think I'd get in, and now we've both gotten in, and I don't really know what to do next... And he's shouting at me for feeling conflicted!"

"He's hot headed. And stubborn - and probably lashing out because of his own issues and feelings of inadequacy - he's probably also shocked that he got in." Boomer said; Butch screwed his face up, and Blossom looked confused by his words too.

"I wouldn't necessarily say Brick has inadequacy issues, particularly when it comes to his intelligence..." Blossom murmured, until Butch cut in in agreement. "He knows he's smart."

"Yeah, he literally thinks the sun shines out of his own ass."

"That's an act." Boomer brushed it off simply.

"I don't think it is, Brick's feeling himself big time most of the time." The green ruff replied.

"All our lives we've been told we're nothing - you know yourself that it gets to a point where you start to believe it - Brick isn't excluded in that."

Butch relented slightly, looking thoughtful, as Blossom suddenly felt saddened by the blonde ruff's words.

"But he knows he's a smartypants. He should know he's clued up enough to get into any top uni." Butch muttered, a slight tone of jealousy evident. Why, he didn't really know - he didn't want to go to uni himself. But it was typical to him that his redheaded brother managed to get into one.

"Well, maybe deep down he doesn't." Boomer muttered, before looking at Blossom. "You sent his application off without him knowing, right?"

She nodded a little guiltily. "I knew he wouldn't do it if I left it to him… And he should, he's more than capable -"

"You knew he wouldn't do it cos at his core he doesn't think he can do shit like that. It's not necessarily down to thinking he wouldn't cope or isn't smart enough or whatever. He probably doesn't think he deserves shit like that. I know that's how I feel anyway - and that's probably how you feel too, if you could put your thoughts and feelings into proper sentences and verbalise them." Boomer said, looking at Butch.

Butch glared at him. "Fuck you, dick lips. There, there's a thought I verbalised."

"You sure did." Buttercup told him supportively, a mock proud manner to her voice that Butch didn't catch.

"Boomie, you do deserve to go to uni if you want to." Bubbles said softly, stroking his leg.

He shrugged rapidly. "Well, either way, that's probably where Brick's head is at. He's probably never planned to do anything like this because deep down he doesn't think he can, or deserves to." Blossom furrowed her brow as Boomer continued to speak. "Look, at the heart of it he just wants what's best for you. And I'm guessing he's gathering you applied for Monkston uni because deep down you want to go?"

"Maybe." She mumbled.

"So, that's why he's saying you should do what you want to do. Don't sweat it okay. He'll come around."

"Yeah, stupid stuff like this can be straightened out easily. All you gotta do is go over there and just give it a bit of this." Butch said, pushing make believe breasts together with his upper arms. They giggled at him; even Blossom cracked a smile, though she did roll her eyes. "And then comes the make up sex -"

The words had barely left the green ruff's mouth before Bubbles, Buttercup and Blossom all began to hiss at him to be quiet; Buttercup had grabbed him by the mouth and pulled him onto her bed.

"Shut your cakehole you moron - the Professor is home! He has the hearing of a bat!" She warned him.

"Cupcake, we have company!" Butch purred, until she pushed his face away with her palm, smirking.

---

Bubbles rested her head on one of the several pillows scattered across her bed, her baby blues fast becoming heavy. She yawned loudly with a stretch, urging herself to sit up, she hadn't even got changed into her pyjamas yet.

As she pushed herself upright, a light tapping on the window by her bed distracted her from her thoughts of where she'd left her PJ's. She pulled a drape aside to find Brick hovering nearby.

Her eyes lit up as she pushed the window open to speak to him. The moment she did, he spoke first. "Is Blossom there? I need to talk to her."

"Awww Brick! Have you come to apologise?" Bubbles cooed happily.

Brick sent a flat stare her way. "Is Blossom there?

"That's so cute! Blossom said you'd never make the first move because you're so stubborn." Bubbles replied, immediately regretting her words as his deep red eyes darkened. It suddenly occurred to her he could leave any second, without apologising, especially if she kept saying things like that. "But you're here now so no take backs!"

"Can I just talk to Blossom?!" Brick snapped in exasperation.

"Yes! She's in the bathroom. Bloss!" Bubbles called; a second or so later Blossom appeared in the room in her pyjamas. "You have a visitor." Bubbles informed her, before looking across the room to her other sister. "Buttercup - come help me find my silkie jammies, I think they're in the wash hamper in the big bathroom. Or maybe I just left them on the floor. Come on!" As she spoke, she'd hooked her arm around Buttercup's and began to remove her from her own bed.

"What? No, go and look yourself! What - why are you dragging me out of our room?!" Buttercup complained as Bubbles kicked the door shut behind her.

The pink puff looked from the shut bedroom door to the red ruff hovering by the window, and folded her arms across her chest, her stare even. Brick, who looked equally as grumpy, looked back at her.

Her expression became expectant. His stare remained hard, until after a few seconds, he sighed.

"Okay - I maybe, possibly didn't convey what I was trying to say as graciously as I could have done earlier." He muttered, and she cocked a brow.

"Is that an apology?"

"As good as. I just want you to do what you want to do, not what you think is expected of you, or what you're supposed to do for everyone else's benefit. I spent so many years letting 'duty' and 'destiny' dictate my life. I got a lot happier when I stopped doing that." He said, his expression warming briefly as he looked at her, referring to his very drastic lifestyle changes - that very drastically involved her.

She paused, a small smile creeping up her face. Blossom leant forward, pushing the window open more so she could squeeze through it to allow him to envelope her up in his arms.

He kissed the top of her head as they held each other tightly. "I'm sorry I sent your application off without telling you. I shouldn't have done that."

He took a couple of moments to reply, mostly because he was surprised she apologised for that - he hadn't made it obvious it had bugged him, even though it had a bit. "It's fine."

"I didn't think you'd do it if I left you to do it..." She lamely explained.

"I probably wouldn't have." He agreed.

"Well, you should. Because you got in. We both did. On scholarships too." She reminded him.

"I know." He said back in a small, almost puzzled voice.

He felt her grip her arms around him tighter, pushing her face against him more. "What about my sisters? And the Professor?" She mumbled into his chest.

One corner of his mouth arched a little. "They'd survive without you, as amazing as you are."

She pulled away a little to look at him. "Would I survive without them?"

He stroked the side of her face. "You'd have me."

"Would your brothers survive without you?" Was her next question. He had to consider that for a second.

"I guess they'd have to. Gotta clip their wings at some point. Either way, it's something to think about, right?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes - I, or we, have to make a decision at some point." Her brow knitted at her words.

"We have a bit of time." He told her as she rested her head against him once more. The short silence that followed was broken by their cell's going off simultaneously. Blossom's was on her bedside table, Brick's in his pocket. She pulled away to go get it as Brick retrieved his, reading the message he'd received. Blossom lowered herself onto the window ledge as she too read it.

"Message from Merry?" Brick asked, referring to Officer Merry, the Townsville Police Department cop who'd been handling their case here in Townsville.

"Yeah." Blossom mumbled, her voice slightly distressed. "Melvin and Princess have accepted plea bargains. They both pled guilty in order to get smaller sentences. We've also all avoided a trial this way..."

"Meeks is being sent to Townsville Juvenile Correctional Facility for 4 years. Only fucking 4 years. He'll be moved to a state prison when he turns 21…" Brick muttered, irritation clear in his voice.

"Princess was sentenced to 2 and a half years at North View Youth Correctional Centre in Miami. Her family is moving their 'empire' that way too, to be close to her. Just 2 and half years?! And why is she going all the way to Florida?" Blossom cried.

"God knows… I'm guessing it's money. Money getting her to a nicer place to serve her sentence." Brick replied, still scrolling through Merry's message.

"So, it's over?" Blossom queried.

"For the most part, I guess. Only Chalmers and Burns to hunt down still." Brick said, referring to the bent cops that had drugged them both and shipped them off to the Cayman Islands for Princess and Melvin. Officer Chalmers and his accomplice, Officer Burns, were both on the run still. TPD were yet to track them down.

"Hmm." Blossom murmured, brow furrowing. "All of Morbucks' people who were involved have been caught and charged, with plea deals arranged also - I wonder if Professor Hale is included in that? I did tell them I didn't want to press charges, he was blackmailed.. Typical, Mr Morbucks himself claimed no involvement whatsoever and has somehow gotten away with it all too so far. Despite the fact he funds anything to do with Princess."

"Money." Brick said simply. "I mean she's even wangled less jail time than Meeks has. Check out where she's spending that jail time." He handed her his phone; having searched the name of the correctional facility Princess was serving her stay at.

It was very clean and homely looking, more like a small studio flat rather than a prison cell for each inmate, with basic amenities provided, like a TV, a kitchenette area and a private bathroom. "It barely looks like a prison!"

"It's a far cry from the prison's I've seen the insides of, let me tell you. Well, briefly seen the insides of, before busting the fuck out of there -" He paused, noting her unimpressed expression. "But hey, I won't tell you, because I'm a good boy now and it's totally irrelevant."

She smirked at him, curling her hand around the nape of his neck to pull him closer to her so she could kiss him. "A good boy who was the one to come and say sorry first."

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up." He murmured, kissing her back.

---

"All right, all right! That's really enough gossiping and gawking! I know it's the first week back since winter break but you've been back in school for a couple of days now - you've really had the chance to catch up by this point. And how much can really happen in a week, hmm?" The teacher, Mrs Bouffet, called to the class of chattering teenagers.

Brick and Blossom exchanged looks from their desk. A lot had happened to them in that short space of time.

"Okay, thank you. Welcome back to Health class," Mrs Bouffet began, surveying the class. Her bespectacled blue eyes landed on Seb, who was sitting at the desk to Bubbles' right, and she smiled. "And welcome to Townsville High."

He nodded courteously, blushing a little as the entire class looked around at him. Apart from Boomer, sitting to Bubbles' left; he was too busy suppressing an eye roll. He was trying to give Seb a chance, like Bubbles had said. And to not let jealousy get the better of him. He was. It was just easier when Seb wasn't following his girlfriend around like a lost puppy.

"Now, I know when you left me we were discussing the hard hitting subject of drugs and addiction, but we're changing direction this week. We'll be working on our new topic today, tomorrow, and Friday. I know this means a slight change to your timetables - instead of whatever your fifth period is supposed to be tomorrow and Friday, you'll need to be in here with me." She informed them, receiving plenty of confused looks from her students.

"But why?" Melissa asked.

"Yeah, I'll miss AP Calculus - I can't afford to miss AP Calculus!" Mary cried from her seat in the back.

"Rest assured it won't affect any of your other studies. Your teachers are well aware of the change for this week." Mrs Bouffet tried to reassure those who looked concerned by this news. "Today and tomorrow we shall be studying and completing some work, to prepare us for a partnered project starting Friday."

"What topic is it we're studying?" Robin asked with a raised hand; she was sitting at a desk beside Seb and Kim.

"Yes, good question Miss Snyder" Mrs Bouffet said, approaching her desk to pick up a large poster laid across it. It was all ready to apply to the board, with sticky tack stuck to the back of it. She held it aloft before pressing the corners against the whiteboard. "We will be studying pregnancy, childbirth and beyond."

Blossom had just taken a sip from her water bottle and found it had gone down the wrong hole as she began to quietly choke. A few eyes were drawn to her as Brick stiffly rubbed her back before removing his hand from her all together, suddenly feeling pretty uncomfortable.

Bubbles was one of the class members looking over at her sister, but there was concern in her eyes. After the news Otis had revealed to them just a week ago, she could see why Brick and Blossom would feel uneasy to sit and hear all about pregnancy and childbirth. She guessed her sister didn't want to sit and learn all this indepth, having just heard that apparently the Devil had plans to make a play for your future child.

Once she'd composed herself, Blossom took a deep breath and looked up at the poster on the board; the image displayed a fully developed looking baby inside the womb of a woman. You could see all the organs diagrammed; the baby had it's fist rammed into its mouth, its eyes closed peacefully. It made her stomach turn in an unsettling way; images of Him and the red eyed girl danced in her head.

She swallowed, jumping slightly when Brick stroked her wrist with his finger. Quietly, he asked if she was okay, she nodded, nonchalant. He didn't believe her. Mostly because he knew her, but also because he knew he felt a bit weird himself.

"Why do we need to learn about that?" Emmett asked from the back of the classroom. "Have teen pregnancy rates gone up in Townsville or something?"

"They will do with Preston around." Christian guffawed, his friends all laughing too.

"That's quite enough boys, settle down. We are covering this topic because it's a vital topic to discuss." Mrs Bouffet replied.

"Was what we covered in Biology about this like years ago not enough?" Kim queried.

"In Biology you would have learned about the mechanics of pregnancy, childbirth and reproduction, the basics. And whilst we will go over those, we're more going to be talking about the social and economical implications of pregnancy and childrearing, too. The responsibilities that come with this major life event. The financial sides, the social sides, all those things that perhaps aren't thought of when a young couple decides to risk having unprotected sex." Mrs Bouffet continued.

"So basically this is the school trying to push abstinence on us?" Kim continued, looking unimpressed.

Mrs Bouffet shook her head vigorously. "Oh no, of course not. I'm no fool - and neither is the majority of the school board. I don't believe in that approach. As you all know, I always have contraception available to my students and I'm very open to discussing sexual health and sexuality, etc. I know teenagers. I know you tell them not to do something they want to go ahead and do it more. Or they just go off and do it anyway. No, I'm teaching you this because I feel it is important, and the school agrees with me. Now, this is a full term baby, at 37 weeks gestation. Who can tell me how many weeks a human being is pregnant for on average? Yes, Kate?"

---

Her pencil danced around the printed out diagram on the sheet in front of her. She knew what she needed to write down but found she couldn't focus. Her rose eyes were glued to the baby in the photo, tucked up safely in it's mother's uterus.

If you were to ever fall pregnant, in the future, that's the only place your baby would be safe. In your womb. When it was born, it would be born with a Him shaped target on its little head, a voice in her head said. Her brow knitted as she tried to shake the thoughts away.

She shouldn't have been letting this play on her mind. It was silly. It was almost make believe. She was 18. As was Brick. They weren't having a baby. She did not want a baby any time soon. This was a nonsensical thing to get upset about.

And whilst yes, they were now doing the thing that made a baby, it didn't mean it was going to happen. They were being safe, or more, they had been. They'd only actually done it once so far. But either way, they'd be safe, they were both sensible people.

Him seemed to have form for this sort of thing. If it wasn't one vision, it was another.

Brick was only in her life right now because of two of his visions. The first being the one he had some 12 years ago, when he'd seen 6 year old Brick, Butch and Boomer kill her and her sisters. Gleefully, he'd resurrected them to do just that; to fulfil their so-called destiny.

But he'd been wrong. No such thing had happened.

And then, several years later, he'd read that prophecy. The one he'd told them about in the Underworld last year. Blossom and Brick, standing by his side. Brick, a horned Demon. Both of them were on the side of evil, apparently. And a small, redheaded, red eyed girl standing with them too.

'No greater power can he expose, to greatly conquer all his foes, to his left and right do juxtapose, eyes of rouge and eyes of rose...'

The prophecy danced around her head.

It too had been disproven. He'd seen Brick as a Demon, which had been temporarily accurate. But Blossom had saved him, through inexplicably harnessing some type of Angelic powers.

She'd freed him, and freed them both from a dismal fate in the depths of Hell.

Him had been wrong once more.

So therefore, surely it wasn't too illogical to believe he would be wrong again? Wrong about his newest foreseen obsession: Blossom and Brick's first born daughter; years in the making and worth the wait, according to Otis.

Her stomach churned once more, distraction from the torturous wonderings coming from her worksheet being pulled from beneath her hand.

Brick, sitting beside her, scribbled down a couple of the answers on the blank lines connected to the diagram. Feeling a light blush spread up her cheeks, she cleared her throat, his scarlet eyes peeling from the paper onto her face. "Sorry. I was a little umm, distracted."

"It's fine. It's partner work anyway, so it doesn't really matter who writes it." He muttered, looking from her rose eyes to the little baby in the picture, knowing where her head was at. "I know why you're freaking out -" He lowered his voice, until she interrupted him.

"I'm not freaking out! Who says I'm freaking out?" She replied, speaking rapidly. He cranked a brow at her.

"Please don't let it play on your mind. Think of Him as a crazy as fuck old man, who comes up with ludicrous, crackpot theories to pass the time and keep himself busy - give himself things to look forward to, scenarios to enact, creating little goals. Because essentially, that's what this is. The last one lasted how many years? He said I was 14 when he had his 'Demon vision'. He was happy to manipulate everything to his will for 3 years just for that - that didn't happen. He's happy to wait 7-12 years now, and let us live peacefully in the meantime - so let him. Because one way or another it's going to end exactly like it did last time. With Him being wrong."

"Do you really believe that?" She asked, voice small.

"I do." He answered her, pushing the hint of doubt he felt to the back of his mind. It wasn't helpful right now, to anyone. Telling her it worried him a teeny, tiny bit - it wasn't going to help her.

She inhaled slowly and nodded, her pink eyes drifting to the baby on the worksheet. "I know it's silly."

"It's not. It's more.. Crazy." He said, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.

She smiled now too, finding relief in him. "What part of us isn't?"

"Well, exactly. Now, come and label where the mucus plug is on this sheet."

He said it way too casually, she couldn't help but giggle.

---

Buttercup sifted through the pile of books on the desk, her eyes scanning the titles as she chose which ones to take back to hers and Butch's desk. Mrs Bouffet had provided them with some textbooks to use to complete their work, and god was Buttercup glad. Covering this topic had made her realise just how little she knew about babies, pregnancy, childbirth and the like.

And also how gross and amazing it was at the same time. She still didn't think she was down for it though.

It had also shone a light on just how little Butch knew. He was laughably clueless. They needed the textbooks.

As she picked up 'What To Expect When You're Expecting', someone sidled up beside her and also picked up a book. Initially, she paid no mind to whoever it was, until the strong scent of perfume was overwhelming, and she peered to her left to see.

Ashleigh Lee stood there, skimming through the pages of 'A-Z of Labour and Delivery'.

Buttercup's lips curled, and she continued to ignore her. That was, until she was more difficult to ignore.

"You better clue up on all this stuff, huh?" Ashleigh said, her long lashes lowered as she slowly turned a page. "What with that reputation of yours, Butterslut."

Buttercup looked at her, flashing her a knowing look. She knew it was her.

"I knew it was you." The green puff hissed. "What are you, 12?"

"What are you, a slut? Butterslut Utonium, after all." She taunted quietly. Buttercup squeezed her fists together so tightly she felt her nails break the skin. "I mean, that Cody guy in our year, which is - whatever. But then a 23 year old?" She smiled when the green puff narrowed her eyes at her. "Yeah, I hear things."

"What the fuck is your problem?" Buttercup growled.

"You are." Ashleigh replied, slamming her book shut. She gave the game away by letting her eyes flicker to Butch briefly, and the penny dropped for Buttercup. She was jealous.

"This is over Butch?" The green puff cried. "Don't be so pathetic, you were together for 5 minutes! I mean were you even actually together? You ditched him!"

"I ditched him for wanting to watch you sing in your silly little band over spending time with me! If it wasn't for you he'd be with me!" Ashleigh hissed, a slight hint of embarrassment creeping into her features that she fought hard to hide.

"So now your plan is to what? Try and terrorise me or something? Because you're jealous? Because I'm telling you now, you do not want to cross me, Lee. I mean, you should fucking know better then to even try." Buttercup warned her in a low voice, taking a step closer to her in an intimidating manner.

But Ashleigh didn't back down. "Oh I'm just getting started." Her deep brown eyes flickered to Butch again.

"Oh yeah? Well, you go right ahead and try to get under my skin, while he's on my skin." Buttercup told her with a smile, noting she was looking at Butch.

Ashleigh grit her teeth together, slamming the book down onto the table loudly. Buttercup didn't flinch.

"Told you you're a slut." Ashleigh seethed.

"Look in the fucking mirror." Buttercup retaliated.

"Is everything okay girls?" Mrs Bouffet asked, noting the tension coming from the desk near hers.

Butch looked up, knowing from Buttercup's stance something was going on, even from across the classroom. He recognised a riled up Buttercup from any angle. When she turned to look at the teacher, he could see the fire in her eyes. That look alone told him danger was imminent.

"Yep." Ashleigh murmured, selecting a book again.

"Mhmm." Buttercup muttered. After staring at them for a couple of seconds, Mrs Bouffet returned to her laptop.

"Fuck you." Buttercup hissed before turning away.

"Whore." Ashleigh replied, heading back to her desk once more too.

When Buttercup sat back down beside her counterpart, she noted he looked concerned. "What's the matter? Why is there blood on your hands?" He'd noted the small little punctures on her palms that would likely disappear within the hour once the X got going.

"It was my hands or her face." She growled.

"What?" Butch asked, still confused.

"It was her. She's the one who made that picture." Buttercup muttered, watching his eyes widen in shock.

"What? Why?!" He replied, baffled.

"She's jealous. Jealous that I'm with you."

"But, but we weren't even dating?!" Butch spluttered. "Not properly. I didn't consider it dating."

"Well clearly she did. You must have left an impression on her cos she's not happy, and she's gunning for me now." Buttercup said, pulling a textbook in front of her.

Butch looked extremely confused. "I don't get it. She didn't seem to give a shit - I didn't really care either."

"I don't get it either. But, whatever, it doesn't matter. I don't care. She can fucking bring it, I'm not even a little bit afraid."

---

"So Seb, how are you finding Townsville High so far? You've almost completed your first week now." Kim said with a smile as Seb sipped at his cola can.

"Yeah, it's been really great, actually. I mean, I thought my Mamà was plain loco when she said I had to move to a new school for only 6 months - but there's no arguing with her, let me tell you." He said, exasperated.

"Yeah, that's pretty tough. Especially for Senior year." Robin sympathised, perching on the arm of the sofa where Kim was sitting. "Well, I hope we've been accommodating for you."

"Oh, so accommodating." Seb cried, his aqua eyes finding Bubbles across the room. "Todos ustedes han sido increíbles..." His second sentence was said in a quiet voice, a warm expression still on his face as he gazed in the direction of the blue puff across Robin's living room; she was chatting with one of her sisters and Mike, who was sitting beside her.

Boomer was sitting on that side of the room too; but he had super hearing. And he was listening intently.

"Uhh, yeah." Kim replied, having no idea what the Spanish part of what he'd said meant. "Well, you joined at a good time. A lot of the trash in our grade has left this year. Or more, been removed."

"Kim!" Robin cried, whacking her on the arm lightly. "That's not very nice. Although, neither were they."

"It's true! Honestly, half the people in our grade are horrendous. You're lucky, you've been grouped in with the only truly good ones." She grinned.

Seb looked over in Bubbles' direction once more, his expression dreamy. "I definitely know it. You're all just, wonderful. All of you, including my super friendly tour guide."

Boomer looked over then, catching the gooey eyed look he was giving Bubbles, or his 'friendly tour guide' - at least it looked like the look was aimed at Bubbles. He could only assume he was mostly talking about Bubbles, considering he'd just referred to her as his 'tour guide'.

His fists clenched tightly. Bubbles had said he didn't need to be jealous, she was just being nice. But maybe she was being too nice. Maybe Seb was getting the wrong idea.

"Oh, Bubbles is our city's sweetheart. She's the salt of the earth, that one. And one of my best friends." Robin said, almost proudly.

"She's one of my best friends too! And she's the purest, most sacred small bundle of joy we must protect." Kim agreed.

"Totally - ella es tan positiva. I've never met anyone like her before!" Seb replied, and they smiled fondly.

"Gotta agree with you there - although I don't know what posi - positiva means - she's the shit." Kim nodded confidently.

"Sorry - we mostly speak Spanish at home, it slips out a lot. I was just saying she's super happy." Seb explained.

"Yeah, she's a treasure." Robin replied, noting the stormy expression on Boomer's face. He had super hearing, she was aware. And he was already feeling fragile on the subject of Seb. "Hey - wanna go get a refill?" She suggested, wanting to extract Seb from the blue ruff's vicinity.

"Uhh, sure."

"I'm good." Kim replied, but also got to her feet. "I'm gunna go find my man. He's here somewhere." She murmured, beginning to search for Kenny.

Boomer watched Robin, Seb and Kim leave the living room, feeling a simmering rage developing in his chest. He needed to have a little word with Seb, before things got out of hand.

---

When the blonde ruff noticed Robin returning to the living room alone, Boomer made his move, excusing himself to the restroom and tracking Seb down in the kitchen.

Robin had opened the patio door to let some air in, Seb was standing by it sipping from his drink. She'd assured him she'd be back in a moment, so he was waiting in there for her.

Boomer pushed the kitchen door shut ajar behind him, clearing his throat to get his attention. The content smile on Seb's face fell off fast when his eyes met with Boomer's sinister expression. "I think we need to get a couple of things straight, you and I, don't you?"

"Uhhh, what do you mean?" Seb asked, glancing at the door, then back at Boomer.

"You know what I mean. Bubbles. She has a boyfriend, okay? Me. I'm her boyfriend." The blue ruff said firmly.

"Oh, I, I know - she said, I mean she told me, I know -" He stuttered, until Boomer cut him off.

"You do? Cos I gotta say, you're not acting like you know. In fact, you're acting like a sad, lost little puppy. And it's pathetic. She's being nice to you because she feels sorry for you. She's not interested in you and she never will be, okay? She's with me. We've been together for a year. And just cos you think you share some bond because you both speak Spanish - well you don't. Loads of fucking people speak Spanish." Boomer cried, as Seb's bottom lip dropped open.

"I, I, I'm so sorry, really, I didn't mean to - I wasn't - I'm not -" He stammered nervously as Boomer loomed over him.

"You know what you need to do? You need to back the fuck off. Because this warning right here? This is a nice warning. Don't make me show you a nasty one." Boomer growled, as Seb swallowed hard, nodding rapidly.

"Okay. Okay. I, I understand, okay." He mumbled shakily.

"You do?" Boomer confirmed, and he nodded some more. "Good, glad we could have this talk." With that he stalked out of the room, leaving Seb quivering in his wake.

---

r&r (: