The world was on fire/No one could save me but you/Strange what desire will make foolish people do/I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you/I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
Buttercup glared at her home phone as it rang for the third time in a row. She groaned inwardly. Why couldn't everyone just leave her alone?! She just didn't want to talk right now, to anyone.
Or at all, in fact. A few days had passed; things weren't exactly much better. But they weren't worse. The conversing with each other had improved, but Jay was a little up and down; she couldn't blame him for feeling angry. It was far too much to expect him to be able to even begin to understand - and she'd fucked up a lot.
Mitch hadn't called, but then, she hadn't called him either. It had been over a week now since he had left. He could have at least let her know he was still alive. But she'd heard nothing.
The phone stopped ringing, and the answer machine message played aloud. It beeped, and Bubbles began burbling down the phone angrily, leaving her message: "Buttercup! Why aren't you picking up your phone? I've been trying to call you, and call you, and call you – OH YEAH, AND CALL YOU! I was just trying to check you where, you know, ALIVE! How am I to know that if you don't pick up?! Need I remind you that you, Blossom and I are triplets! And as a triplet, we're SUPPOSED to have a connection. A deep and profound sisterly bond. Have your sister senses not been tingling?! Blossom is not okay; she really REALLY needs us right now. If you don't come over to my house this afternoon I will be forced to assume you are shunning your duties as a sister, a triplet AND a Powerpuff girl! BEEP."
Buttercup rolled her eyes. God, she was dramatic. But then Blossom came into her mind, and what she'd been through and she felt a little guilty. It sounded as though she was needed. She could probably do with some unloading with her sisters herself too. They had to know sometime about Jay's real Dad, if they hadn't already figured it out themselves.
"Okay," Boomer said as he opened the door to Butch's apartment. "I'm here, and I got beer. And apparently, I rhyme. What's up, I had to get out of work early for this." He placed a 6 pack of beer on the coffee table and slumped on the sofa next to Butch.
Brick leant forward and grabbed a beer, cracking it open.
"Yeah, what gives?" Brick asked as he took a swig, throwing a can each to his brothers.
"Do we need an excuse to hang out nowadays? We're brothers, after all. Aren't we supposed to enjoy each other's company?" Butch questioned. "Can't even remember the last time we all hung out."
"Supposedly." Brick answered. "Seriously though, what's up? It's unlike you to call us over to hang unless you got an issue of some kind."
Boomer placed a hand on his green brother's leg. "Are you coming out of the closet?"
"No!" Butch yelled, shoving Boomer's hand off of his leg. "You dick. Can't we just fucking hang?"
"Yeah, but not when I'm supposed to be working! You said it was urgent!" Boomer cried.
"You're not in any kind of trouble are you? Cos seriously, right now I don't have the fucking time to get you out of any shit." Brick said sternly.
"Have you knocked someone up?" Boomer asked.
"Slept with someone's girlfriend?" Brick asked with narrowed eyes.
"Owe a dodgy drug dealer?" Boomer suggested until Butch snapped.
"For fuck's sake will you shut up?! No I'm not in any trouble, no, no one is currently impregnated, thanks - I'm not taking any drugs - and Brick, she wasn't your fucking girlfriend at the time, okay?!" He snarled at them both.
"Then what?!" Boomer asked, gesturing with his hands dramatically.
"It's just that I - well, something's sort of happened. And, theres something else I should really tell you both." He began, inhaling as he mulled over just how to word it all.
"Okay.. What? What happened?" Boomer pressed expectantly. The green ruff looked from his blonde brother to Brick - who was beginning to look irritated and impatient.
Butch exhaled raggedly. "I slept with Buttercup." He finally said, looking to them both with a mildly guilty looking expression.
There was a stunned silence.
"You - you did what?!" Boomer barked, his cobalt eyes wide. "But, but what about Mitch? She's with Mitch! And has been for like, forever!"
Brick's shocked expression changed quickly into one of great disdain, his crimson eyes narrowing at his brother.
"Well err, I guess they've been having some difficulties for like, forever, and erm - we've been sorta - it just kind of happened." Butch said rather sheepishly.
"What the fuck?! Does Mitch know?" Boomer said, and Butch nodded.
"Yeah, he does. He left - left the house anyway. And it's been like a week since it happened and he's not come back." Butch replied. "They've broken up, well, I think anyway."
"He left?! Like what, packed his shit up and walked out?" Boomer confirmed, and Butch nodded weakly. "Jesus Christ - is Buttercup okay? When did this happen?"
"Like I said, about a week ago. And she's okay, I guess..." Butch told Boomer, looking over at Brick, who was still giving his brother a nasty scowl. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"There is something fundamentally wrong with you Butch." Brick answered, his voice a snarl. "You just can't fucking help yourself can you?!"
Butch pulled a confused expression at his brother. "What do you mean?!"
"You! You can't fucking help yourself! It's like if you see someone happy - you have to fuck it up! You have to ruin what other people have!" Brick yelled. "It's been years since you were with Buttercup - she moved on, and you had too. But you couldn't just let it be, could you? What about Jay, huh? Did you even stop to think about how this would affect him?!"
Butch glared at him. "Brick, you really don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
"Yes I do, Butch. You're just a fucking saboteur. You cannot stand to see others happy. You just fucking have to meddle and fuck shit up all the time!" Brick retaliated. Boomer ran his hands through his blonde waves, sinking back into the sofa more, knowing his brothers were just getting started.
"And as per usual you think you know fucking everything - when you don't! You're trying to compare this to you and Blossom and what happened between me and her - but in case you forgot Brick, you fucking cheated on Blossom. I didn't break you and Blossom up, you did." Butch accused. "You and Blossom were already broken up when we were together! This is not the same, so stop trying to make out like it is."
"You made it difficult for us to move forward - you added another complication we didn't need. And now that you can't screw things up anymore for Blossom and me, you're driving a wedge between Buttercup and Mitch instead. I fucking knew you were up to something, I knew it months ago!" Brick said, getting to his feet.
"Brick, why don't you just give him a chance to explain -" Boomer said, but Brick cut him off.
"I don't need to hear his excuses, and to be perfectly honest with you I'm sick to death of them. He's fucking full of them, and I'm done." Brick said, heading towards the door to his brothers apartment.
"You're so full of shit Brick. Acting like you smell of roses. Where are you fucking going?" Butch asked, also standing.
"The hell away from you." Brick spat, as he slammed his way out of the apartment.
Butch growled and pulled at his black hair in frustration, before sitting back down on the sofa beside Boomer, his head still in his hands.
Boomer watched him silently, feeling torn. Half of him completely agreed with Brick - Butch had a habit of wherever he went, chaos followed, he had done all his life. But half of him just felt pity towards his wayward brother. He did believe he didn't mean to screw everything up all the time.
"Butch, what the fuck is going on?" Boomer asked him.
"It's not like that." Butch mumbled angrily, and Boomer asked him what he meant. "It's not like how Brick thinks it is. It's so much more than that."
"What is it like then?" Boomer pressed. "Tell me what you mean man or I can't help at all."
Butch sighed. He may as well tell him. It might make him see some sort of reason. "Jay. He's my son."
Boomer blinked. "I'm sorry - what?"
"He's my kid. Buttercup was four months gone when she found out she was pregnant, remember? She was pregnant the last time we broke up, we just didn't know it at the time. When she did find out, she was with Mitch by then, and - well, she wasn't prepared to give me a chance. So she raised him with Mitch. But, he's mine." Butch explained glumly.
"Fuck…" Boomer muttered, looking at his brother in disbelief.
Bubbles pulled her front door open, smiling smugly as she looked at her sister who stood before her.
"Ahh, you came. Good." She said, lowering her eyelids. "You would have really been in my bad books if you hadn't shown up."
Buttercup rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Let me in." She said, pushing past her and into Bubbles' plush house.
Blossom was sitting on the sofa nursing a cup of tea. She looked pretty stressed out, but Buttercup brushed it off. She did have a newborn baby.
Speaking of which, Bonnie and Blake were both sitting in baby bouncers, looking around curiously.
Blossom looked up at Buttercup and smiled. "Hey stranger, you okay?"
"I'm fine." Buttercup said, shrugging. "You?"
"I'm fine." Blossom replied.
"Does 'I'm fine' actually mean: 'I'm not'?" Bubbles asked as she zipped back into the room with a cup of coffee for Buttercup. "And I'm talking to both of you."
Blossom smiled half-heartedly, Buttercup sighed heavily.
"She's right, you don't look fine." Blossom said, concern in her voice as she looked at her raven haired sister.
"Well, neither do you." Buttercup responded, stopping Blossom short momentarily.
"Is everything okay?" She pressed, semi ignoring her comment. "I haven't heard from you in ages and you've not answered any calls or messages. It's like you've fallen off the planet the last week or so."
"Maybe I wanted to fall off the planet." Buttercup muttered and Blossom furrowed her brow.
"How come?" Bubbles questioned.
"Me and Mitch, we've kind of broke up - at least, I'm gathering as much." Buttercup said, much too casually for Bubbles and Blossom to take her seriously.
"Oh right. Like a proper break up, or like he goes to his cousins house for the night and you're all loved up again by morning?" Bubbles asked, knowing this happened every now and then between her sister and her partner.
"Well, he's left - and he took all his stuff, and the car." Buttercup replied, looking at her pointedly. "And I haven't heard from him in over a week, so..."
"Oh." Bubbles answered. "That seems like a pretty proper break up."
"Uh huh." Buttercup quipped.
"Buttercup that's awful - what happened?" Bubbles asked, feeling bad for expecting her sister to be over exaggerating.
"What happened?" Blossom asked. "Are you okay? Is Jay okay?"
"Like I said, I'm fine. And, well," She hesitated. "Things haven't been okay between us for a long time. It was kinda inevitable. But far from mutual, I suppose."
"I had no idea..." Bubbles mumbled. "I mean, I know you guys argue but, you argue with everyone."
Buttercup flashed her sister an irritated look but didn't argue with her - she'd only be proving her point. "Well I didn't really tell anyone did I, so how were you to know? It's not all bad." She said, lifting her shoulders then dropping them. "I mean, I get the whole bed to myself. More space, all the covers, no one rubbing their dick up against me in the night."
"Eww, Mitch does that?" Bubbles squeaked.
"Boomer doesn't?" Buttercup asked, skeptical.
Bubbles thought about it for a moment. "I guess I've gotten so used to it I don't even acknowledge it anymore. Anyway, what happened? I mean, what made him just take off?"
"Yeah, seems a little brash, just up and leaving. I mean, what about Jay?" Blossom said, completely ignoring her sister's side conversation they'd had seconds ago.
"He err, he had his reasons. I don't blame him for walking away. It was pretty justified." Buttercup muttered awkwardly. "I deserved it."
"What could you have possibly done to make him do that?" Bubbles asked a little incredulously.
Buttercup sucked air in through her teeth, contemplating what she was about to tell them. She hoped they didn't think she was completely evil as she told them what she'd done. "I cheated on him. I slept with someone else."
Both her sisters' eyes bulged at this revelation.
"What?!" Bubbles shrieked. "You slept with someone else?! Who?!"
"Butch?" Blossom asked, noting her sister's brow furrowed at the question. She nodded slowly.
"Yeah… How did you - how did you know that?" Buttercup asked, her eyes on her redheaded sister.
Blossom sighed lightly and shrugged. "Just an educated guess."
Buttercup frowned, but swallowed back the mild irritation she felt. Now wasn't the time to try and take the moral high ground. She knew what she'd done was wrong.
"How did that even happen? You two never talk anymore!" Bubbles asked, thoroughly confused.
"I don't really know… It just kind of happened. Which tends to often be the case when Butch is involved." She said looking at Blossom momentarily. Blossom frowned. "But it was just once. Not a valid excuse if one even exists, but I guess it feels like something, because it could have been twice, but I didn't let it be twice…" Buttercup said, trailing off, her mind on Butch's taught, muscular body. She shook her head a little, bringing herself back.
"God…" Bubbles said. "So what, you just went from ignoring each other to sleeping with each other?"
"No… He just started fucking hanging around me like a bad smell. And at first it just pissed me off, but... Well, I got used to him being around me again and kinda started to like it. Having Butch there somehow made me open my eyes to all the problems Mitch and I had that I've been pretending aren't there for years." Buttercup said with a sigh. "Honestly, me and him, it's all so fucked up. I'm so fucked up."
"I thought you and Mitch were good? You always seemed happy - and you can tell he's absolutely crazy about you." Bubbles queried, and Buttercup shook her head with a scoff.
"He's not anymore. For a long time I thought we were good too but, it's just been pretend. Almost like an act. An act with just so many complex layers - it's just a mess. He left like a week ago now and I've not heard from him - neither has Jay. I haven't tried to contact him either - I mean I wouldn't know what to even say anyway. I just - it's fine, okay? I don't want to talk about it." Buttercup said, folding her arms across her chest. She felt she'd shared quite enough already thank you very much.
Blossom had been quiet on the subject, Buttercup noticed. She looked at her, and Blossom was looking at her right back.
"Buttercup… I don't know what to say. I hate to think of you 'pretending' to be happy in your relationship for so long. You should have talked to us sooner! And Mitch shouldn't have just walked away… I mean - you obviously shouldn't have slept with someone else but - god I bet it stung Mitch all the more the fact it was Butch." Bubbles cringed, and Buttercup's lips formed a thin line as she nodded. "I don't get it!" The blue puff spluttered, looking to Blossom for back up. "I mean, what is it about Butch?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Buttercup asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Well, there's obviously something about him, he managed to persuade both of you into his arms - and bed." Bubbles added.
Blossom sent a peeved look Bubbles' way too now. "I can see the attraction, he's a good looking guy and all, and a personal trainer, so he's like, super ripped - like the tank-iest of him and his brothers. And of course he's cute, he's related to my husband, but, I mean, wow!"
"Look, there's a history between me and Butch, all right?" Buttercup grumbled. "It's not like it's just sex for the sake of it. You know there were feelings between us for a long time. I mean, I had feelings for him just as long as Mitch and I have been together. If not longer."
"You've fallen for him." Blossom said, finally speaking on the subject.
"I have not." Buttercup retaliated, outraged.
"You so have." Blossom replied smoothly.
"I so haven't! I have not fallen for him. I've just maybe, tripped. And lost my balance, that's all." Buttercup said, feeling her cheeks pink up just a little bit.
Blossom chuckled, and when Buttercup looked up she was smiling a knowing smile. "I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Oh of course I don't Blossom, when do I ever know what I'm doing?" Buttercup replied, and Bubbles giggled.
There was a small pause, all thinking quietly temporarily. "Hey, do you still have that tattoo?" Bubbles asked Buttercup, who looked at her blonde sister in annoyance.
"You know I do, of course I do. Tattoos are permanent and I haven't had any removed have I? Why do you ask?" Buttercup bit back.
Bubbles giggled in reply. "I just wondered. Does Butch still have his?"
Buttercup folded her arms and looked away. "Yes he does."
Bubbles made an 'n'aww' noise and the green puff rolled her eyes.
"Anyway," Buttercup said, eager to change the subject. "You didn't ask me over to discuss my car crash of a life, did you? What's up?"
The atmosphere in the room went from lighthearted to heavy in a few seconds then, and Blossom visibly wilted as Bubbles threw a look of concern her way.
"Well," Bubbles said delicately. "Blossom's been struggling at the moment. She's having these awful flashbacks, from what happened in January."
"Oh." Buttercup said, looking over at Blossom, concern etched on her features.
"I think personally, that she needs to talk about it a little bit more. Never discussing it or how you feel is just going to make it worse. And so is pretending it didn't happen." Bubbles said.
Blossom sighed. "But I don't want to talk about it."
"It might help though?" Bubbles said.
"You'll never know if you don't try." Buttercup spoke up. "I don't think you realize how brave you've been."
"Brave?" Blossom said, looking up at her green eyed sister with surprise.
"Yeah! I mean, you went through that fucking awful thing, which was bad enough - and then you found out you were pregnant, at the same time. Which I know myself can be a huge thing to process anyway, especially when it isn't planned. And even though you are finding it difficult - which anyone would - you came through the other side. You survived. You are surviving every day. You can't let him beat you." Buttercup told her.
Blossom didn't speak. She just turned her gaze to the ground with hollow eyes, slightly nodding her head.
"Blossom, why don't you talk about it? Talk about your flashbacks… Maybe we can figure out what the trigger is." Bubbles suggested.
"It seems like it can be anything that triggers it." Blossom said, tilting her head to the side. "Anything from a smell, or a sight, or a sound. Or sometimes it just pops into my head out of the blue - and nothing triggers me. And it just takes me straight there. Sometimes I can control it and fend it off - that's easier when I can't see it. Sometimes I can't always see it. Sometimes I only hear it. Or I only feel it. Feel him - on top of me, or a phantom hand brushing my hair back or just touching me or turning me. They usually start with his ceiling. His ceiling and his blue lamp shade - because that's what I could see during most of it - that's what I remember anyway. I can see him there and I can't stop it. I can't move. I feel like I'm moving but I'm not. It's like, torture. Trying to make your body listen to you and it won't."
She paused, glancing at the TV in Bubbles and Boomer's living room. "The other day it was someone who looked like him on TV. I mean, I can't even watch TV to get away from it! It's like he's everywhere. Sometimes it's just the odd thing, and I can see it coming, and I can push it away. But sometimes it just takes over. And I need to try and control it better so I don't end up becoming absent for however long during it."
"Why don't you try to push your focus onto something you can control?" Bubbles said. "Like breathing. Just focus on breathing through it all - like when you're in labor. That helped me deal with the pain so much. Maybe it could help with this?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Blossom smiled weakly, exhaling. "I actually feel a little better just for talking about it, even though I really didn't want to."
"See, I told you! I should so be a therapist." Bubbles smiled smugly.
"Only because you're fucking crazy yourself." Buttercup added, to which Bubbles elbowed her.
"I've decided I'm not going to go back to work." Bubbles said, slightly changing the subject.
"Why's that?" Blossom asked. "I thought you loved the dance company?"
"I did. But I love Bonnie more. And, I guess that place has suddenly lost its shine for me. He still works for them." Blossom frowned, knowing who she meant when she said he - Jeremy. "Not in Townsville, he's moved out of town. But, he still works for the same production company wherever it is he's gone to. Grace wouldn't say what town he's living in now - I think she knew but she didn't say. I just refuse to work anywhere that is associated with him." Bubbles growled the last word.
"Bubbles, don't let what happened to me affect your work." Blossom mumbled, but the blonde shook her head.
"No, really, I don't want to go back. I really don't. I loved my job but, I feel like that chapter has closed for now. Boomer makes enough for us to live on at the restaurant. We'll be fine. I'm a Mommy now." She said, smiling over at Bonnie, who'd dozed off in her bouncer. "I have bigger fish to fry."
"I have no idea what we're going to do." Blossom said, looking over at Blake, who was watching Bonnie sleep suspiciously. "I still have thousands of dollars worth of debt from med school to pay. So not going back to work isn't really an option for me."
"Yes, but you also have stinking-rich-Brick for a boyfriend." Buttercup interjected. "Can't he just sort out your med school bills?"
"They're my bills. It wouldn't feel right to ask Brick to pay for them. I'm sure we'll sort something out." Blossom pondered. "I like being at the hospital anyway. It's the only place I feel in control. I know what I'm doing when I'm there. And usually my mind is too preoccupied to wander to things I don't want it to."
The front door burst open then, and Brick came through, looking extremely irate.
"Brick, hi." Bubbles said, standing. "What are you –"
"Is Buttercup here?" He demanded.
"Erm, yes, why?" Bubbles squeaked confusedly, looking at her brunette sister, then back to Brick.
"Brick! Don't be so rude! You can't just storm into Bubbles' home –" Blossom began reprimanding him but he interrupted again.
"I need to speak to Buttercup." He insisted.
"Why?" Blossom asked, but Buttercup stood and hovered toward him.
"It's fine - what's up with you?" She asked. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into Bubbles and Boomer's kitchen.
Blossom and Bubbles looked to each other with confusion, then sat and zoned their super hearing kitchen-wards.
"What the fuck Buttercup?! I told you not to let him screw you up!" Brick cried.
Buttercup gave him a skeptical look. "Are you on crack?"
"Butch." Brick retaliated, ignoring her comment. "I warned you! You of all people should know what he does! You know what he's like!"
The penny dropped and Buttercup scowled at him. Clearly he'd seen Butch today. "Brick you don't know what you're talking about! And it's none of your business!"
"I do know what I'm talking about Buttercup. I know what it's like to be in your position, I've been in your position! I've been the cheater, I fucked things up because of one stupid mistake and if you keep letting him in you'll do the same!" Brick barked. "In fact, you already have!"
"Look, Mitch and I - it's different to you and Blossom. It's totally different. We won't be able to fix things, they've been broken for a long time. It's not the same, it's different!" Buttercup realised she sounded just like Butch and his attempts to justify their actions immediately after they slept together.
"Oh really? And why's that?" Brick asked skeptically. "What makes it so different?! You've been together like over 8 years - I fucked up 10 years with Blossom. You cheated on Mitch with Butch, I cheated on Blossom with Carla - it's seeming pretty similar so far!"
Buttercup was losing her patience and quickly. Brick didn't know what he was talking about, and just like her sister he always thought he knew better, but he didn't. She couldn't hold it in any longer. "Butch is Jay's father!" She exploded.
Brick stopped in his tracks, shocked. "What?!" he cried.
"Jay is Butch's son! Butch is Jay's Dad! And Mitch knows, he's always known - so has Butch. And that is why we can't patch it up. Because, because things have been fucked up for a long time now - and it's about time things changed. And to be honest, I'm not sure I'd even want to fix things with Mitch now anyway. Look, my main priority is to make sure Jay isn't screwed up beyond repair by it all." Buttercup said, her voice not as angered now she'd let it out. It had felt a lot better than she'd thought it would.
Buttercup enjoyed seeing Brick open mouthed, with nothing more to say. She turned to see Bubbles and Blossom at the door, looking indifferent.
"Well?" Buttercup asked, awaiting the fall out after a long pause. "Haven't you got anything to say?!"
Bubbles answered her casually. "No." Blossom looked just as unperturbed.
Buttercup blinked, her mouth opening slightly. "What?!"
"We've pretty much known since he was born." Blossom said, shrugging. "Well actually, we've known since you told us his due date."
Both Brick and Buttercup shrieked at the same time now. "What?!"
"And you never thought to mention this to me?!" Brick cried.
"Why have you never mentioned this to me?!" Buttercup cried vehemently.
"You never shared so we thought you obviously didn't want to talk about it." Bubbles said, shrugging herself now.
"Yeah, we weren't going to pressure you into telling us something you clearly didn't want to. You and Mitch seemed fine, up until now anyway, so we figured it wasn't affecting you much… As unfair on Butch and Jay as it was, it wasn't our business." Blossom added.
Buttercup's left eye twitched. "But, but, how did you know?!" Buttercup exclaimed.
"Come on Buttercup, give us some credit. You were like half way through your pregnancy when you found out - and you'd only been with Mitch properly for a couple of months. It didn't take a genius - or a doctor - to do the math." Blossom said.
"Plus, we used our sister senses! Remember - it's a triplet thing!" Bubbles cried.
"But, but I'm a triplet and I had no idea!" Brick exclaimed.
"Yes, but you are a man, and therefore stupid." Bubbles replied with a smile.
Brick exhaled with relief as Blake continued to sleep. He had just transferred him from his arms to his bassinet without waking him - an amazing feat.
He quietly stripped down to his boxers, throwing a pair of lounge pants on and going to find Blossom.
She was in the bathroom, combing through her mane of red hair before throwing it up into a bun for bed.
Brick grabbed his toothbrush and squeezed on some toothpaste, sitting on the toilet lid and brushing his teeth.
"I still can't believe it about Jay." Brick said, his voice muffled as he brushed his teeth. "I mean, all this time he's been my nephew, like properly my flesh and blood, and I've barely paid him any notice."
"Don't worry." Blossom said. "He's kind of been your nephew all along anyway, well, as long as we were together anyway. You've been there."
"Not enough though, I mean he's 8 years old and I barely know the kid." Brick muttered.
"Well, you'll just have to make it up to him from here on out. Just like Butch and Buttercup are going to have to do." Blossom said, glancing at her reflection worriedly, wondering how confused her nephew must be feeling.
"Yeah. Jesus christ have they got a lot to sort out." Brick said, spitting into the sink and washing his mouth out. "And I probably owe him an apology. Not sure if he'll get one though." He grunted and Blossom rolled her eyes. "It kinda makes sense though. Butch has always made the effort see him if he got the chance to. He's always been keen to attend his birthdays or any family events - I always wondered why. Just assumed it was to cause trouble."
"Yeah, I always noticed that too. I should have clocked on sooner that he knew, really. Don't let it play on your mind." Blossom said, holding his face and stroking his stubbly chin. "You're his uncle, not his Dad. Butch is the one who has the most to make up. And Buttercup."
Brick nodded his agreement, placing his hands on Blossom's hips, caressing her skin. "How are you feeling anyway, any more human yet?"
Blossom shrugged. "A little sore still, but it has only been 3 weeks. I'll be there soon. Don't worry." She smiled, lowering her lashes as Brick gripped her hips and then released.
"I can wait." He grinned seductively.
"Good." She replied, padding out of the room. "Hey, could you run downstairs and grab me my nipple cream? I think I left it in the kitchen." She said, grinning innocently as she disappeared into their bedroom to check on Blake and get into bed.
Brick rolled his eyes. "What a romance killer." He muttered, zipping down the stairs.
"Hey, I can't help it if your son's got a healthy appetite for milk!" He heard her reply from upstairs.
Brick smirked as he turned the kitchen light on, rummaging around on the table for her cream. He found it on top of the pile of mail. He turned to take it to Blossom, when a letter caught his eye.
He did a double take, picking it up. It was addressed to Blossom. That wasn't what caught his attention though; it was the police department's emblem on the top corner that made him curious.
He stopped himself from opening it there and then, and decided to take it upstairs with him.
Blossom was sitting in bed by then, waiting for him. Blake lay sleeping in his bassinet by the foot of the bed.
"Pass it over." Blossom cried as he tossed it to her. "Lord knows my nipples need it."
She caught it and began to apply it, when Brick cleared his throat as he kicked his trousers off and slid into bed next to her.
"So, what's this?" He asked, waving the letter around.
Blossom sighed when she saw what it was, placing the cream down. "I don't know. I haven't opened it. I couldn't open it."
"Do you want me to?" He offered.
She shrugged half-heartedly. "If you like."
Brick tore the envelope open as quietly as he could. He fell silent as he read it in his head.
"What does it say?" Blossom asked nervously after a few seconds.
"It says there isn't sufficient evidence to proceed with the case, with or without you involved. Although you presented the typical attributes of someone who had been drugged with Rohypnol or GHB, they only found a trace in your system, and they couldn't find DNA of his on you, because of his - his use of protection." Brick had to pause, anger bubbling up like an over boiled pot. He exhaled, continuing. "Even though you came straight in, they think it's down to the Chemical X in your system. It probably burned the drug away quicker than it would in a normal human. They aren't searching for him anymore."
"So basically he's off the hook." Blossom said. Half of her was devastated. Even though she'd stated she didn't want to be involved in it, she did kind of hope he'd end up in prison or something, as naive as that sounded.
"Of course he isn't. The cops may have given up, but he's not off the hook. If he ever comes anywhere near you again, I'll do worse to him than any police officer, judge or prison could do." Brick promised, folding the letter up and placing it on the bedside table.
Blossom smiled appreciatively, but then she frowned again. "That's not the only thing though, is it? I mean, he can most definitely do it again now if he wants to, can't he?"
Brick scooted over in bed, placing an arm round Blossom and holding her tightly. "I'm afraid it's out of your hands now Bloss. Anyway, you just need to focus on you for once."
She nodded gently, sighing. "I just feel like it's controlling me."
Brick squeezed her again. "It's not controlling you. You control you."
"I feel like I have no control. I feel like I lost it. The most in control I've felt since was when I was working at Mandeville General, and then when I helped deliver Bonnie. Apart from that, I dunno, I don't feel like I'm in charge of me anymore. These flashbacks, these feelings, it's like they're in charge." She murmured.
"No, you are. Come on Blossom, you've always been in charge - of everyone." Brick said, lowering his lashes at her. "Maybe you just need to do something that makes you feel that way, like when you were working at the hospital, and helped deliver Bonnie. Find something that gives you the power back."
Blossom nodded vaguely, thinking. Then she suddenly jumped out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Brick asked, jumping up and following her. She'd zoomed down to the kitchen, and was fumbling in one of the drawers.
Brick watched her return from the kitchen holding a pair of scissors, she stopped in front of the large mirror in their hallway.
"Blossom what are you -?!" Brick asked, but stopped, as it soon became apparent what she was doing. She'd pulled her long red hair out of it's bun, and in one swift motion chopped it just along her neck.
Brick's mouth fell open, as her gorgeous, silky mane fell to the floor in big handfuls.
Once she felt it was level, Blossom sighed happily, looking at her reflection. "That, I could control."
"I can't believe you just did that." Brick said flatly. "Now my hair's longer than yours?!"
"I know, how weird is that?! But I controlled that. And it felt good." She said, smiling as she looked at him.
Brick was still looking down at all her hair on the floor mournfully. "I, I can't believe you just did that." He mumbled again.
Blossom ran her fingers through it, being surprised when the length stopped. "It'll grow. You were right, I feel so much better after doing that."
Brick smiled weakly. She didn't look right with short hair, it didn't look bad, it just didn't look right. With those soft pink eyes, and glorious, radiant figure, Blossom could pull anything off - it would just take some getting used to.
"Come on," Blossom said, linking her fingers through his and turning towards the stairs, leaving the tendrils of hair on the floor. "Let's go back to bed."
r&r (: