I don't love you/But I always will/I always will

Brick banged on her front door furiously. He was hitting it so hard it was lurching against the lock - but she was lucky he hadn't knocked it down.

A short, fiery haired woman answered the door, looking aghast as she peeked through, leaving the safety latch on still.

He watched the relief sweep over her face as she sighed and undid the catch. "Brick, you scared the hell out of me!" She opened the door. "I thought it was - I thought it was someone else…" She trailed off when she looked at his angered expression.

"You're leaving?" He demanded, placing his hand on her door so she couldn't shut the door on him.

"Are you coming in or are you just going to shout at me on my doorstep?" She came back with. He hmphed as she held the door open for him to come in.

He stepped inside, standing in her living room rigidly; his crimson eyes wide and irate. "Well?" He beseeched.

Blossom pulled a hand through her hair, catching her fingers in a few strands that were caught up in the half ponytail her hair was partially held up by. "Yes, yes I am - but not forever."

"Why?" Brick inquired flatly.

Blossom rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. She hated it when he got like this. Sometimes he got so angry and irrational he was impossible to talk to. It was like he'd made up his mind on what was going on before you'd even got the chance to explain yourself.

"It's a work thing, okay? A research project at a neighbouring hospital. I was asked to do it by the chief of medicine, and I said yes. And that's it really. It's a great opportunity. It's not a big deal." Blossom said simply, raising and lowering her shoulders. "It's only 3 months, I'll be back 8th May."

"And what about Jeremy?" Brick asked bluntly.

She flinched at the mention of his name, her expression becoming weathered. "Brick, listen -"

"No Blossom you listen. Are you really just going to run away? Just let him do that to you, and get away with it? Because it's not going to help! It's not going to help you, and it's not going to stop Jeremy from doing it again! If he gets away with this, he will definitely do it again to someone else. I mean he thinks he got away with it with a POWERPUFF for crying out loud?! A woman who could kick his ass with her little finger! And you don't want justice! You just want to run away, like a -" Brick yelled until she cut in.

"Like a what, Brick? Like a coward? How dare you! You have no idea! You have absolutely no idea how I feel! And the only person who can deal with this, and make these decisions is me. I'm a grown woman! Don't make me regret calling you that night." She warned him, her rose eyes as furious as his were.

Brick's face dropped at her outburst, but he wasn't at all comforted by what she was saying. "Look, I just think you're making a mistake. Skipping town, not pressing charges -"

"I'm not skipping town!" Blossom shrieked. "It's a work thing Brick! A research project I've been asked to do, and I said yes. I don't see how it's such a big deal. I'm a doctor! Things like this are apart of my job!"

"Just like what he did wasn't a big deal, hmm?" Brick muttered.

There was a cutting silence, in which they both stared at each other, waiting for the next to say something in this back and forth.

"Brick, it's only 3 months. You'll see me when I get back. I just feel like I need to get away from Townsville for a while…" Her voice was softer, she knew his anger stemmed from concern. "And I've been handed this opportunity, so I want to take it."

Brick dropped the sneer and sighed. "I'll," He didn't know whether to say it, so he said it quickly. "I'll-miss-you. That's all. I can't keep an eye out if you're in Mandeville. I mean, I had to search it online I didn't even know where the hell it was. How do I know if you're okay if you're miles away?"

"I'll be fine, don't worry. I think it'll be good for me. A chance to clear my head, and make sense of everything." She said, and she did really mean that.

"You'll be clearing your head whilst doing a research project?" He asked, his brow raising.

She smirked. "Yes. That's exactly what I'll be doing. Anyway, I was packing before you arrived." Blossom said, heading back to her bedroom and wondering if he was planning to stay.

Brick stretched begrudgingly and sat down on her sofa, noting how messy her place was; it was obvious she'd been packing.

When he looked down at the coffee table he noticed a letter, with a mug of cocoa set atop it. He couldn't help but notice the Townsville Police emblem on the top corner of the paper. Picking the mug up quietly, he slid the sheet of paper off the table and into his hands.

Brick skimmed the words, his mind going crazy with rage as words like 'dropped charges', and 'based upon your request, the prosecutor has settled' flashed before his eyes.

From reading the letter, Brick could make out that Blossom had requested them to drop the charges. They hadn't said yes, but they hadn't said no either. The prosecutor wanted to go on without her and try Jeremy, using her evidence and statement. On the coffee table next to it was a reply penned by Blossom, requesting that she have nothing to do with any more of the case.

He stalked into Blossom's room, brandishing the papers. "What are these?"

Blossom sighed the moment she realised what he was holding. "Brick will you just please -"

"You know what! Fuck this. I'll just take this into my own hands like I wanted to in the first place." Brick declared, throwing the papers onto the floor.

Blossom was watching him one minute, but then when she blinked, she felt her chest go tight, and suddenly it was hard to breathe. She felt hot and sick, and dizzy. And all she could see was the white ceiling, with the pale blue lampshade. But they were moving rhythmically, up and down - or were they moving? Was it actually her moving?

She could feel a heavy weight on top of her, and she couldn't move. But the weight was moving, and grunting; there was hot breath on her neck. She tried to move her head but she couldn't, all she could do was stare ahead at the ceiling.

A head of brown hair was attached to the weight on top of her. The weight was someone on top of her; it was Jeremy. She wanted to push him away, to grab at his head and shove it.

But nothing happened; she couldn't move. It was like she'd lost total control of her body.

She begged and pleaded for it to stop, but it wouldn't, no one could hear her. Two strong hands were on her shoulders and when she blinked, Brick was standing in front of her, a frightened expression on his face.

"Blossom! Blossom it's me, it's okay, I'm here!" Brick cried.

She stared at his face for a few seconds, feeling tears hit her cheeks as she blinked at him with wide, startled rose eyes. Slowly she looked up: the ceiling to her bedroom, in her apartment. She was at home.

And Brick was there. She looked at him again, noting how frightened and worried he looked. She was sitting on the floor, her face drenched in tears. Brick was crouched down in front of her, holding her gently by the shoulders. He could finally see some recognition in her eyes; before she'd looked totally absent.

"Brick. Brick…" She breathed, grabbing him and pulling him toward her tightly. Brick had to ask her to loosen slightly; her grip was so strong.

"What happened? I mean, it was like you were here then you weren't." Brick said, wiping a tear from the tip of her nose.

"It felt like that for me too. One minute I was here, the next I couldn't move. And I could see his room, and feel him on top of me." She said in a small harrowed voice.

"You just froze, and then sank to the floor, begging and crying for someone to stop. For him to stop; it was awful…" Brick said.

"It keeps happening, just randomly. It's like I can't control my own body. Just like I couldn't when he... It was a flashback. I've seen it happen to patients at the hospital; it's not nice. I'm sorry Brick, it just came out of nowhere." She hiccuped, wiping at her eyes.

"Don't apologise. This isn't your fault, none of it is. How are you going to cope for 3 months on your own?" Brick asked, holding her face delicately.

"I promise I'll be fine." She mumbled, but a part of her did wonder if he was right...

Brick was over Boomer's place again. Since his break up with Blossom, the two of them had grown close, and even more so recently since finding out what Butch had done.

He had an ulterior motive these days though. He could find out how Blossom was doing through Bubbles, who just happened to update Boomer when Brick was over.

His hidden agenda was even more evident today though; Brick had a little job for his blonde brother to do.

Bubbles was napping on the sofa, which was the perfect situation for Brick, as he didn't want the blonde puff overhearing their conversation. She would only ask questions, and he didn't need that right now.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Boomer asked, placing a mug of coffee down in front of Brick as they sat at the island in the middle of the kitchen together.

"I need you to do something for me." Brick said conspiringly.

"What?" Boomer asked, a nervous edge to his voice.

"I need you to find out as much as you can about Jeremy Paxton." Brick said, glancing over at Bubbles briefly to check she was still sleeping.

Boomer's face scrunched up in confusion. "Jeremy Paxton? I know that name. Where do I know that name from?"

"Yeah you do know that name, he works with Bubbles. I need as much info as you can get without causing any suspicion from Bubbles, okay? Address, phone number, current location, anything." Brick said, leaning in closer.

"Why? Wasn't he the one that dated Blossom?" Boomer asked, his expression doubtful.

Brick ground his teeth. "Yes. He was, but that has nothing to do with this. Just don't ask questions and do as I say. Find out as much as you can about him."

"You can't give me a job to do and not tell me why!" Boomer complained.

"Let's just say I need to have a little chat with him." Brick said, his tone suggesting talking was the last thing they'd be doing.

Boomer let out a sigh. "I get it. Brick seriously, this is just silly. Blossom's not even in Townsville right now. So why don't you take the next couple of months until she is back to move on? You could find someone else you know. I can hook you up with a cutie or two from my work if you want? A couple of the waitresses I know are single -"

"Boomer, this isn't out of jealousy. I just need you to do this for me." Brick said, losing his patience.

"If it's not out of jealousy then what is it out of?" Boomer queried skeptically.

"I can't tell you right now. But I just need to contact him." Brick said, not being able to tell Boomer why. He promised he wouldn't.

Boomer exhaled loudly and nodded. "Fine. But what I can tell you already is that he's on holiday. I remember Bubbles yapping on about him being abroad somewhere hot at the moment, wishing we were abroad right now too. So, you're going to have to wait till he's back in Townsville."

Brick scoffed. Of course he was out of town. He was obviously hiding. "Okay, that's fine. I can wait." Brick said, a sinister simper meeting his lips.

Bubbles hummed a contented tune as she sat at the breakfast bar with her brunette sister, looking down longingly at her newest sonogram scan. At 21 weeks pregnant, Bubbles had the tiniest pert bump sitting on her stomach daintily.

It was mid April, and Blossom hadn't visited as she said she would. Bubbles couldn't pretend she wasn't disappointed; because she was, especially as Blossom had said she wasn't allowed visitors either - apparently she was way too busy and no non staff were allowed in the accommodation.

But she was due back in 2 weeks, and despite feeling a little hurt that she hadn't come to see her what with her expecting and all, Bubbles had decided to throw her a welcome home party to be hosted at her house. Buttercup was over to help her plan.

She called it helping, but in reality Buttercup was listening to Bubbles chatter away, and raiding her cupboards.

"So do you know who to invite?" Buttercup asked, spraying crumbs across the table as she asked.

Bubbles glared at her momentarily as crumbs landed on her scan picture. "Be careful Buttercup! You got crumbs all over her." She smiled, stroked the baby's head with her little finger.

"Well put it somewhere safe then!" Buttercup snapped, but the smitten smile on Bubbles' face couldn't be shifted when her new baby was on her mind.

"I can't stop staring at her. She's beautiful. The Professor was so happy when I told him the baby was a girl; his first granddaughter." Bubbles gushed.

"Yeah I know, it's magical - have you got any more cookies?" Buttercup asked, not even comprehending what Bubbles had said.

"Buttercup! Stop eating! Jeez I'm the pregnant one here!" Bubbles said, getting up and grabbing the cookie jar from the side.

"And you're not even taking advantage of that fact! I mean, look at your tummy, it's tiny!" Buttercup said, pointing at her sister's small bump. "I looked like I'd eaten someone as pregnant as you when I was half way."

"What can I say, I'm petite! And she's perfectly healthy, which is the most important thing." Bubbles crooned, patting her little bump.

"I know, but you're one of those lucky bitches you see at the OBGYN who are just as pregnant as you, half the size and not having any of the symptoms. I hated women like you when I was pregnant." Buttercup grumbled, and Bubbles giggled.

"It's not my fault my girl is good to me!" Bubbles teased.

"Yeahh well I shoulda expected it, Jay's still a little shit, shoulda known it wouldn't have stopped out of the womb. So anyway - what are we doing with this party? Why don't you write a list of people to invite?" Buttercup said, the cookie jar in front of her now.

"Okay. Where do we start? Who does she get on with at her work? There's Tess and Tom, she goes on about them sometimes. And a couple of other doctors, Emma and Kurt. That Ethan guy. I can't think of any others…" Bubbles muttered, tapping her pen against the pad.

"Well, she doesn't really talk about work friends much does she? I can bring a couple of the guys from the gym where I teach. So put down Hugo and Jez. The Professor and Kelly, obviously." Buttercup added.

"So including Boomer and me, you and your lot, that's fourteen guests. What about Butch and Brick?" Bubbles questioned, her brow furrowing.

"Do you really think she'll want either of them there?" Buttercup asked, her expression souring at the mention of them both.

"She'll want Brick." Bubbles said quietly, remembering how it had pained her sister to tell her Brick wasn't talking to her at the Christmas party. "She won't want Butch. But I'll have to invite him."

"Why?" Buttercup asked brashly. "It's a party for Blossom, and you just said she wouldn't want him there."

"He's Boomer's brother Buttercup! And Boomer is my husband. Can you imagine not inviting any of Mitch's family to an event?" The blue puff said, and Buttercup's bottom lip jutted out in frustration.

"I don't speak to any of Mitch's family." Buttercup said bluntly. "Cos I don't like them! Mitch barely speaks to any of them either."

"Well, Boomer and I don't work like that. Come on, Butch is my brother in law. And him and Brick mean a lot to Boomer, they're all he's got." The blonde said sadly, and Buttercup rolled her eyes.

"Fine, fine, tweedle dee and tweedle dum can come. That makes the numbers 16." Buttercup relented.

"I guess I can invite some of my work friends? They're always up for a party." Bubbles said, beginning to scrawl some names down. The front door opened and Boomer called a greeting to Bubbles and Buttercup as he arrived home from work. He then continued a conversation, and Bubbles realised he wasn't alone.

"Oh, hi Brick! We're just organizing a welcome home party for Blossom." Bubbles said, smiling at him and turning back to her paper. "Okay, so I've got down Grace, Michelle, Cindy, Brett and Max from my work. Max is newly single too, and he's so lovely! So maybe I could get him talking to Blossom." Bubbles pondered aloud.

"Yeah, because the last dancer guy you hooked her up with went so well." Buttercup said sarcastically.

Brick turned and looked at them, wondering if they knew. No, they couldn't have. Buttercup would have killed the guy if she found out. And Bubbles wouldn't be trying to hook Blossom up with people.

"What about Jeremy? Think it'd be awkward?" Bubbles wondered. Buttercup shrugged in an uninterested fashion.

"Jeremy?" Brick barked suddenly. "You're inviting Jeremy?"

Two blank faces stared back at him. They definitely didn't know. "Maybe yeah..."

"Bubbles, don't invite him." Brick cried vehemently.

"Why not?" Bubbles asked in a small, confused voice.

"Because, because Blossom won't - just don't okay? Blossom won't want him there. She really, really won't want him there."

There was a stunned silence, in which Bubbles, Boomer and Buttercup gave him perplexed looks.

"Okay, I won't…" Bubbles murmured. Boomer grabbed Brick's arm and pulled him out of the room.

Buttercup scowled as she watched them leave. "That guy is fucking nuts. And he has a cheek to think he can have a say on if someone Blossom was or wasn't interested in comes along - invite him if you want to Bubbles, I don't think Blossom will care. And if she blew him off, he likely won't even want to come."

"What the hell is going on with you man? You've been acting strange ever since Blossom left. You can't just flip out at Bubbles for wanting to invite someone Blossom sorta dated, you're not with her anymore!" Boomer hissed as Brick sat down in the living room. Boomer shut the door behind them and sat down opposite him.

"I told you this isn't about jealousy! This is - this is much more than silly relationship stuff, okay! You've just got to trust me -" Brick instructed, but Boomer interrupted him.

"How can I trust you when I have no idea what's going on? Can't you just let me in on all this with Jeremy so I can help?" Boomer asked, but Brick shook his head.

"No, I can't. But, not because I don't want to! It's not for me to tell. But, I will tell you this. Jeremy? He's dangerous. Keep Bubbles away from him." Brick said, his voice deadly serious.

Boomer blinked as he stared at his brother. "What?"

"Look, that's all I can say. Just trust me on this one! When have I ever steered you wrong?"

Boomer gave his redheaded brother a speculative look.

Blossom heaved her armfuls of bags out of the taxi, glaring at the driver who watched her struggle with them all. She gave him a disgruntled stare and made her way up to her apartment, thanking the lord her apartment block had an elevator.

It was the 8th May, and Blossom had just returned from Mandeville for 3 months. She was glad to be home, but also nervous.

Because she now had the task of telling them all she was expecting. Although her large bump spoke for itself, she was 27 weeks gone, and not exactly carrying small.

She was most worried about Brick and Bubbles finding out. Brick because - well he would be a father in 3 months time and he didn't know it yet. And he may completely squash the idea the child was his, considering everything with Butch. She wasn't sure she could bear it if he didn't believe he was the Dad. She wholeheartedly believed that was so. But Brick may not see it that way..

And Bubbles because there was a small voice in the back of her mind convinced she might feel thwarted. Bubbles was married, and had tried for the baby she was expecting; yet Blossom was going to be having a baby before her - and soon too.

It all seemed such a mess.

When she finally made it inside her home, she closed the door behind her and placed her bags and suitcases down by the door. Sighing happily, she headed for her sofa and flopped onto it - as much as she could with a large melon up her top.

There was nothing like snuggling up on your own sofa when you'd been away from home.

Planning to unpack tomorrow and watch a film tonight, Blossom rested her hand on her tummy, feeling the baby within kick and shift towards it. There really was nothing quite like it. And she'd found it such a reassurance, what with being on her own for 3 months, her mind not in the brightest of places.

But she hadn't really felt all that alone, what with someone kicking her in the bladder constantly, and stretching hard against her stomach and ribs.

Just as she'd gotten comfy, which takes longer than you'd think in your final trimester of pregnancy, her landline phone rang.

"Hello?" Blossom asked, just managing to stretch and reach it without having to get up.

"Blossom! Oh you're home!" Bubbles cried from the other end of the phone. "I'm so glad! How are you?"

"Bubbles, hi - I'm fine, how are you doing?" Blossom asked, getting herself comfy once more on the sofa and resting her hand on her bump.

"Oh I'm fine, I'm fine! Better now I know you're back in Townsville! Listen, can you come over to mine for a bit? I've missed you so much - and you need to see my bump! Baby girl is kicking now, I want you to feel her!" Bubbles gushed excitedly.

Blossom looked down at her visibly wiggling stomach and sighed. She guessed it was now or never.

"Erm, okay. I can pop over for a bit." Blossom relented. "I do need to talk to you anyway..."

"Oh great! Okay, erm - weird request, but can you make sure you wear something nice?" Bubbles asked sheepishly.

"Something nice? Is this a dig at my dress sense again?" Blossom asked, bowled over by her sisters obsession with fashion.

"No no! No, just in case we decide to go out for something to eat... Or something." Bubbles explained lamely.

Blossom was of course suspicious of this, but agreed. She didn't have many fancy maternity outfits; but she had a black dress she supposed she could easily dress up or down. That should appease her sister. She bid Bubbles goodbye and pulled herself up, grabbing her suitcases and heading to her room to get changed and freshen up a bit.

Her stomach was in knots but she had to get it over with and start telling people. It was that or stay in hiding for the next few months then let the baby announce his or her arrival… No, she couldn't do that. She was mad at herself for leaving it this long as it was. It hadn't been her plan. She was going to tell Brick while she was in Mandeville; but she'd been busier than she expected, and just never quite brought herself to do it - and the same went for her sisters.

But now Bubbles had invited her over, she had to tell her. Her large bump spoke for itself anyway.

As Blossom quickly changed in her bedroom, she thought of the last time she'd been in here with Brick. How he'd witnessed her having a flashback and completely freaked out. She'd barely heard from him while she was away. He'd text her a few times, and they'd had a few short phone calls, but that was about it.

Blossom supposed she should really call him; she needed to arrange to see him so she could tell him he was going to be a Daddy. She had no clue as to how he would respond, or how to tell him.

Would he be happy? Devastated? Scared? Would he immediately think it was Butch's? Would he not even entertain the idea it could be his? She remembered his words when Bubbles and Boomer had announced their upcoming arrival, and it made her feel like his response wouldn't be great.

'Can't say I honestly desire a family now.'

Her stomach churned uncomfortably. She would just have to get it over with. If he didn't want to know, she would be okay. They would be okay.

And at least she could tell her sisters beforehand. They might be able to give her some advice; after all, they'd both had to tell someone they were going to be a father.

Blossom exhaled nervously as she knocked on Bubbles' front door. It was a nice neighborhood, where her sister lived, and she hoped one day to have a place like this. Especially now, for her and her baby.

There was no answer, so she knocked again.

After a few seconds, Blossom heard a distant voice yell: "It's open!"

So Blossom let herself in apprehensively.

For some reason it was completely dark in Bubbles' house. But then the lights clicked on, and cries of "SURPRISE!" filled the room.

And Blossom was surprised, so surprised she was shocked her waters didn't break early then and there.

The happy faces of family and friends welcoming Blossom home changed to stunned expressions, as all eyes in the room swivelled down to Blossom's large baby bump.

Everyone was there. Some of her work friends, the Professor, Kelly. Even Brick and Butch.

No one spoke, the silence was almost deafening. No one had expected to see that. And Blossom hadn't expected to see all of them. She was expecting a quiet heart to heart with her sister whilst nursing a hot drink.

Not this.

Blossom found Brick's wide red eyes amongst all the stares; she'd never seen him looking so shell shocked.

She then found Bubbles, who looked confused and upset, sporting a small bump.

Not expecting to make this announcement to everyone at once, Blossom decided she needed to get out of there. Now.

But she didn't know exactly where to go. She couldn't go home. Everyone had seen her bump - it was time to face them all. The 3 month bubble had burst.

"Blossom, you're pregnant?!" Buttercup cried, but Blossom couldn't meet her eyes. She rearranged her purse on her shoulder, and left the room, walking through into Bubbles and Boomer's study, and closing the door behind her.

Bubbles, Buttercup, Boomer, Butch and Brick followed. Mitch looked on awkwardly at the other party goers and his father in law.

"Damn, Aunty Blossom's gotten fat huh!" Jay cried.

r&r (: