Disclaimer: I do not own PPG.

Author's Notes: Sorry it's been so long. I get flashes of inspiration that produce chapter after chapter, then end up in a dry spell. With school over, my dry spell is also over.

IIIII

It didn't take long for the girls to notice a change in their sister, her mood far more pleasant than it had been in months. Bubbles was pleased and relished this new change, happy for whatever had brought it about. Blossom, however, retained her suspicions, wondering what her sister was hiding from her. She had not been entirely asleep on the nights she rolled over and found Buttercup's side of the bed empty at an hour far past what their bedtime was. The redhead gave a scowl as she put her hair back, getting ready for the day.

"So who did you fuck?" She asked curtly, watching Buttercup's eyes go wide and a light blush come over her cheek. Although she had said it more in annoyance, the reaction made her question. Before she could vocalize it though, she saw her sister's familiar sneer return.

"I'm not fucking anyone, what are you stupid? I'd just have to hear more lectures from you about purity and shit." She said, throwing her bag over her shoulder "Hmmph." Blossom scoffed. No way anyone would be fucking her tomboy of a sister. Everyone knew it was Blossom who got the body of the three. And the brains, she narcessistically thought to herself as she looked in the mirror. For as much as she preached purity, Blossom's mind was anything but. She loved the attention her figure got her, tall and slightly curvy with a bust that was nicely shaped. She often neglected wearing a bra just to tease. As she pouted her lips in front of the mirror, she smiled. She really was the most beautiful of the girls.

At school, the girls separated as soon as they could, Blossom heading to class and Buttercup in another direction, leaving poor Bubbles standing there and able to feel the tension between her sisters. She sighed softly and made her own way to class. When she got there, she found that Buttercup had not yet arrived. The blonde had a sinking feeling that she would not see her sister much today.

Buttercup looked over her shoulder, making sure no one was following her before taking off. Her heart raced as she flew quickly, high enough to avoid anyone recognizing her. Her flight took her far to the edge of Fuzzy's forest, looking down and hearing the familiar banjo playing in the air. Once she had cleared it, she saw the place that he had asked her to meet at. It was a very small shack, covered by the darkness of the trees. It looked like it had been abandoned years ago. But, she could smell the familiar scent of Ace's cigarettes coming from the area and she knew he was here.

Walking in, she found the man with his back against the wall, smoking one and looking pensive. He didn't much move when she entered, looking up at her. "You came." He said softly. Buttercup nodded, shifting her feet underneath her as she closed the door.

"I used to come here before I joined the gang. " He flicked his cigarette in the long burned out fireplace, sighing. "It was safer than the streets, you broads weren't even born yet. I could come here and just be me, you know? Not have to struggle. I could hide food, blankets, everything I ever needed. I had hoped this would become my home and I could do something with myself. Stupid dream, eh?" He gave a smoky chuckle as Buttercup sat next to him, looking up at him with those big green eyes.

"Those guys are my family, the only people I can depend on. I showed them this place once, they said it was too far out, we needed a base closer to the city, and so we ended up in the junkyard. It wasn't no home though, that's just a party pad. I know we fuck around and cause trouble but what else are we supposed ta do? We ain't got no future, got money, got charm. We got nothing..." He sat up a bit, leaning on his knees. "So what's the point of getting out of it if you got nowhere to be? You got your whole life, Miss Superhero. Whatcha wanna waste that time and your heart on me for?" He smirked a bit, looking over his glasses. To his surprise, Buttercup had tears in her eyes. She brought her fist across his face, nearly dislocating his jaw. "What the fucking hell, man?" He held his cheek, looking at her. "Shut up! It's not stupid, and neither are you! You're not a waste of time...or my heart." She wrapped her arms around his neck as she sobbed. All the tears were really annoying her, but it seemed like she couldn't help herself, it was either that or beating him half to death in frustration.

"Buttercup." She looked up at him. "You're 16, young and active and doing things right. I've been destroyin' myself since I was younger than you. I don't want you to end up messing yer life."
"You're in it, I have to be doing something right." She breathed and brought her lips to his again as they fell back in the kiss. Ace's mind still told him how wrong this was, but his hands felt no need to stay away from her body.

IIIIII

"Pssssst."

Blossom spun around, her sensitive hearing picking up on the noise. It seemed to come from the wall behind the gym. She looked at her friends, then back at the wall suspiciously. "Be right back!" She smiled at them, then ran behind it. The redhead scowled as she was greeted with the grin of Snake, although it was odd to find him alone.

"The hell do you want?" She asked, crossing her arms and resisting hitting him on principle.

"You sssspeak sssso roughly for ssssuch a pretty girl." He laughed.

Okay, maybe one hit wouldn't hurt.

"You're on school property, get out of here before I call the cops, creep. Or do worse." She went to turn around before she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her first reaction sent the gangly man flying into a wall.

"Augh! Ssstupid girl, and I wassss going to give you information..." He coughed, slowly getting back to his feet.

"What information could you possibly give me or that I'd want?" She sneered, turning her back on him.

"About your ssssister..." He grinned evilly.

"What...?" As she spun back around, she found he had gone. What the hell was he talking about? The entire thing left her in a foul mood for the rest of the day and her mind filled with questions she had for her sibling.