The boys stopped eating for a second, and put their cutlery down. Wendy noticed their expression change, and felt it slightly erie at them doing this at the same time. This made her dread their answer. Brick decided to speak up as the other two stared down at their food.

"Well, we were sentenced to eighteen months, and were taken offshore," Brick went on to explain all that had happened, the other two ruffs shuddering at some points.

He told her how they weren't allowed to use their powers, how they were put into separate isolation rooms each if they did. The rooms of which were cold, drafty. Only had one blanket to keep you warm. How some of the inmates took advantage of them not being able to use their powers, and beat them several times. Sometimes the guards didn't do anything about it since they figured if the boys had powers, violence against them was okay, forgetting the fact that the boys weren't allowed to use them. He finally told her about nearly being beaten to death by duranium bars.

Wendy felt her heart break at this story. She understood now why they weren't too fond of experimenting with duranium. She started to feel something inside. Something inside her that upon seeing three small children looking depressed and who had been through all that, just made her get up and hug the three of them. "I'm sorry boys."

The boys didn't actually mind being hugged by this woman they had only just met. Even Butch didn't complain. She let go of them and sat back down. She felt like she had to get across something.

"It sounds awful, what happened to you three, but I must stress to you, that the reason you ended up in there was because of what you did. Your actions before the sentence. The assault on the police and all those other crimes before that. Though I suppose you've already realised. As you said Brick, you're steering away from crime."

"Yeah we've realised" Brick replied. "That's all behind us."

The scientist looked at the three ruffs with sympathy. This did explain a lot. All those media reports about the boy's crimes and terrorising, and here she was talking to three boys who cooperated with her, who were polite to her, and were not attacking her in the slightest. That sentence really must've changed them.

After the boys had finished their meals, they floated from the table and Brick decided "Well, we'd better get home now."

"Home? You mean, back to that warehouse?" asked Wendy, gathering the plates in her hands.

"Well, yeah, that's our current residence'" Butch said in a sarcastic tone.

"Thanks for everything Miss Wendy," Boomer waved. "Are we seeing you again tomorrow?" he wondered in actually quite a hopeful voice.

"Oh uh, yes of course. We can continue the testing tomorrow. Although I only wanted to see how well the chemical actually worked, so there's not much left to test." She took on a sympathetic expression and an almost pleading voice.

"But, are you sure about going back to the warehouse? It's just, well it must be awfully drafty in there and-"

"Trust me Wendy, it's best not to let people know you're associated with us. They'll turn on you" Brick interrupted her.

"Well, could I at least drive you there?" Wendy asked.

"No we'll fly, and we'll meet you here tomorrow. Thanks again" Brick ushered for his brothers to follow him outside, and Boomer gave one final wave before they flew off. Wendy sadly waved back. She wasn't too sure about letting three orphaned children sleep in a drafty warehouse. Still, she had to admit, it was nice to have some company again.

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It was night and the three super-powered boys were cruising in flight back to their 'home'. During which Boomer brought up "It seems like she didn't want us to leave."

"Probably feels bad about letting three small children sleep in a warehouse. But it's best if she's not seen with us. Same reason Bubbles can't be either, it'll ruin her reputation" Brick explained.

"Why do you care about those girls' reputations?" Butch questioned.

"I don't, I care about Bubbles's" Brick answered. And even Butch had to admit that Bubbles had been nothing but respectful to them. It would be sad if that happened to her.

"Did anyone notice something though? About Wendy?" Brick asked the other two.

"What?" asked Boomer.

"I noticed a few letters from a car repair company, which I assume was why she had to get the bus the other day. But it was addressed to Wendy Innlost. And she said she was the daughter of chief Mccoy'' Brick told them.

"And didn't she mention someone called Mark earlier today?" Butch remembered.

As they got closer to their warehouse, they saw a light blue streak approach it too, which of course, turned out to be the blue Powerpuff girl. "Bubbles over here" Boomer called.

The blonde puff turned around and noticed them. "Oh, hi boys. Have you been out?"

"We've, been somewhere" answered Brick.

The boys and Bubbles flew in where they started a small fire with their laser vision. "I managed to sneak out again while Blossom Buttercup and the Professor are asleep" Bubbles informed as the four of them sat around the fire.

"Did they wonder about how your octopus was fixed?" asked Boomer.

"Yeah they did, so I had to lie and say I stayed up late to sew him myself, that I couldn't sleep without him. The Professor wasn't too happy about me, quote on quote, staying up past bedtime. But he did comment on how well stitched it was" told Bubbles.

"Hm, maybe you should consider sowing as a career choice Booms" Brick chuckled and Boomer just rolled his eyes.

"Why do you call him 'Professor', why don't you call him, dad, or something?" Butch wondered as he lead down on the floor, sitting up slightly. Contributing at least one thing to the conversation.

Bubbles tilted her head slightly in thought for a moment. She had never once even thought about it. "Y'know I'm not actually sure. I called him it once, when he first created us. Boy was that a time. Me and my sisters painted our room together with him, zapped in some windows, drew some pictures," she went on.

The boys became slightly curious listening to Bubbles's story. "Does he, tuck you in every night?" asked Boomer.

"Uh huh" replied Bubbles.

"And, does he pat you on the back, and take care of you when you've been hurt?" wondered Brick. Bubbles nodded.

"And make sure that you've been fed everyday?" even Butch couldn't keep down his own curiosity.

"All those things" Bubbles responded and all three ruffs went quiet. "What is it?" she asked.

"Mojo or HIM never did anything like that with us," Boomer admitted quietly.

Bubbles couldn't help but feel slightly bad at the three of them. She then got an idea to try to cheer them up. "Hey, have you boys been out on the sea?"

"We flew over and watched it every now and then during our time in the offshore prison, why?" asked Boomer.

"Never been out on the waves and dodged them? C'mon I'll show you" the blonde puff flew and the boys just shrugged at each other and followed her out, past the docks and out to the sea.

Bubbles skimmed just above the surface of the water, putting her hand in as she did creating a line in the currents with the speed she was going. "C'mon it's fun!" she called, dodging a wave as she said that.

It was lucky the boys had super hearing, with all the noise of the waves crashing against each other. Butch and Boomer looked at their leader, who just shrugged and said "Just don't actually get wet or anything. That water's freezing and there'll be no way to dry off." Spoken like a true parent.

The three ruffs and blue puff played a game of tag flying above the sea, dodging waves and genuinely enjoying themselves. Even Brick who had nothing better to do, grew a slight smirk on his face. From the docks and anyone in nearby industrial buildings, thought their eyes were playing tricks on them or they were witnessing something supernatural with the blue red and green streaks of light darting over the ocean. Luckily they weren't close enough to see exactly who the streaks of light were.

Eventually Bubbles decided it was time to go home. Even she needed her sleep. "Well, see ya tomorrow night" she waved and giggled.

"Wait Bubbles!" the red ruff stopped briefly. "You don't have to bring us food. We've found someone who's feeding us" Brick informed her.

"Really? Who?" she wondered.

"Oh a scientist, who agreed to feed us if we help her with some experiments" explained Brick.

"What kind of experiments?" wondered the blonde.

"She wants to see what chemical X can do, and don't worry" he interrupted her when she was about to say something. "So far from the way she's acted, I can trust her," he assured.

"And you're fine with that?" persisted the Powerpuff, revealing hints of worry in her innocent voice.

"Yes Bubbles, don't you worry. You'd better get home now, we'll see you tomorrow night."

"Well, okay. Bye." She flew off into the direction of Townsville.

From this point, the boys fell into a sort of routine for over the next few days. They would fly over to Wendy's house in the day, where they would help her out with her tests on chemical X, and she would normally fix them up something in the evening to eat, which every time the boys were grateful for. And at night, Bubbles would visit them for a while, and apart from nights where she and her sisters went out on patrol in Townsville, she spent her nights sneaking out and usually playing a game with the Rowdyruffs. Either a ball game, or a childish game like duck duck goose which she taught them. Or even card games like poker or blackjack that they taught her.

One day while testing out the new power the boys had of firing balls of energy; firing at propped-up objects to see how much damage it could do, they accidently hit a chemical in a beaker which Wendy forgot and left out. "Oh no, I forgot to put that away" she realised.

"Why is it dangerous- woah!" Boomer tried to say before the chemical exploded, but as it did, he threw his arms in front of himself on instinct, and a blue light appeared in front of him, absorbing most of the damage from the blast. The boys behind him were thrown back but only slightly.

Wendy ran over to them, taking the goggles off her head. "Boys are you alright?" she knelt down.

"Yeah, I think we're fine" Butch groaned rubbing his head.

"Boomer, what was that blue light you emitted?" Brick wondered getting back to his feet. Well he was floating.

"I don't know, I just threw my hands up because of the blast" explained Boomer rubbing his elbow, appearing to have hurt it.

"That blast was pretty powerful, but you boys aren't scathed. That light must've been some sort of shield that you've developed Boomer-" when Wendy looked back down at them, she saw the blue Rowdyruff holding his elbow looking quite upset.

Once again something inside her made her want to comfort him. "Try not to touch anything in here okay" she asked Brick and Butch before picking up the blue Rowdyruff. "C'mon Boomer, let's have a look at that."

Wendy took him upstairs and naturally Butch began looking around out of boredom. "Butch, what did she just say?" Brick reminded.

"I'm not touching anything dangerous, but what else are we supposed to do?" complained the green ruff. "I'm only here for the free food she gives us anyway, and not having to spend all day in a drafty warehouse." He continued to poke around at the equipment Wendy had laying around.

Brick ignored his brother, though there was something to what he was saying about nothing else to do down here. So the red ruff decided it wouldn't hurt to look around a bit himself. He was particularly interested in the computers she had, especially a rather big one on the wall which he switched on.

A password was required. The ruff thought for a second and remembered something earlier. He took a guess and typed: M-A-R-K. It logged on and Brick examined some of the software.

This wasn't a typical computer with typical programmes. This was mainly focused for forensic science and investigation. Though it appeared, as Brick noticed by the date it displayed, it hadn't been used in years. It had software for scanning, finding, and collecting information quickly. He played around with it a bit, becoming rather interested.

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Upstairs in the kitchen, Boomer was sitting on the kitchen counter with his sleeve rolled up, as he had bruised it. "You don't need to put a bandaid on something like this Miss Wendy. I've suffered worse."

"I know," the scientist replied. "But I still feel bad about it. Careless me, leaving things around like that." She placed the band aid on and to Boomer's surprise she kissed it afterwards. "All better now?"

"Uh, yeah" Boomer rolled up his sleeve, slightly confused. "So, were you always a scientist?" he asked, trying to start a conversation with her.

"Hm? Oh not always no'' she responded putting the band aids away. "I was actually a lawyer at first. My dad being an officer at the time, thought maybe I could help him a bit. But I never actually worked on any crime cases or forensics. What I ended up doing instead was becoming a divorce lawyer for men, helping them get custody of children. Don't get me wrong I was happy to do so. But eventually I left that field to pursue my real interest."

Then Boomer remembered "You said you were the co-creator of that chemical X right? The thing that gives us our powers. So, who was the creator?"

"Oh, the creator? He, he was, something." She drifted off slightly, with a fond smile on her face and eyes half closed. She shook herself out of it and turned back to a confused Boomer. "Anyway, we'd better go back down to the lab haven't we?" she picked the boy back up and walked back down to the lab. Boomer could've easily flown but for some reason, he quite liked the comforting feeling of being carried by Wendy.

Brick heard their host coming and quickly logged the computer off.

"Well now Boomer's all sorted, let's test his ability to make that shield shall we?" Wendy suggested.

Boomer's shield as it turned out wasn't all strong but was powerful enough to repel and deflect many objects, including the orbs of energy that the boys could fire from their hands. When it became late again and the four ate together, Wendy of course was reluctant to let the three of them return to that warehouse, but Brick would always say it was for the best that they do.

Bubbles visited them that night as per usual. "Hey Boomer, hey Brick" she gave Boomer a small hug to greet him. "I was looking forward to tonight as always." She then turned to the third brother. "Um Butch, could I ask you something?"

Butch looked slightly confused, briefly glancing at his two other siblings. "Me?"

"Yeah um," the Powerpuff didn't look him in the eye and stared to the side at the floor. "My sisters and I were fighting Princess again today, she's still envious of us as always, but she has this new mech suit, which made her harder to defeat in um, um hand to hand thingy,"

"Hand to hand combat?"

"Yeah! That. Although Blossom and Buttercup held their own, I kinda, wasn't so good. So I was wondering if you could teach me more of those martial arts moves like you did the other day?" she wondered finally facing him.

Butch glanced at his brothers once more and Boomer urged "Go on Butch, you taught us some of them when we had nothing better to do." Brick just gave an expression that read 'Ah, you might as well.'

"Alright, I'll show you some more moves, just pay attention" Butch agreed.

This routine went on for a few more days. Wendy had pretty much learned what the chemical she had co-created could do by now; and as Brick noticed, she seemed worried.

But he figured out by her mannerisms that it was not because of anything to do with chemical, but because now there was no reason for the boys to visit her anymore, and this worried him too.

One, this would mean that himself and his brothers won't be guaranteed a meal everyday. And two, there felt as if, there was something more personal. She had looked after the boys, showed concern when they were hurt in the lab sometimes, gave them tips on how to use their powers. She had fed them, and even offered them blankets to take home to the warehouse for warmth. There was something inside all four of them, that was dreading this day.

This wasn't the only reason Wendy seemed worried however. Her father, police chief Mccoy, was to lead a police raid on a storage room down at the docks, which was being used by the mob, whom they hoped to catch in the act in a drug deal. During that same day, Wendy received a phone call from her frantic mother. The three ruffs were in the living room, and couldn't help but listen in. They saw Wendy's expression change, and by what she was saying it didn't seem good. The boys floated to her.

"What is it?" Boomer asked.

Wendy put the phone down slowly and without looking at the boys she told them "The drug raid my father went on, against the mob. It backfired, a lot of officers were injured and-" she paused before saying "The mob, they dragged him off. They have my father."

Hey guys, sorry if you had to wait a while for this chapter. I was wondering whether this chapter should be about a certain crime that happens and the boys decide to get involved and fight against, or this should develop the relationship more between them, Bubbles and Wendy. I decided it would be best with the latter, and stopping a crime next chapter. The rating may change as well, since there will be darker themes, if it wasn't obvious already, in this story, as I'm basically trying to make the boy's world slightly darker to the girl's. Thanks again.

John Armtrong: Thank you very much.

Ekka189: There is one thing she hasn't told them yet :)

Powerpuff girls and Rowdyruff boys belong to CN.