A/N: I hate technology. Here is the finale. A week late but it's okay. Because it's here! XD

Enjoy my lovelies!

"He shall never know I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same."
― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

-o-o-o-
Ensnared
Part VII: Ensnared

-o-o-o-

Fighting Crime…

The crowd's roaring was growing louder but Blossom kept walking. Alone. Brick had gone off to join his brother- albeit reluctantly, the grip on her had been like steel until the last possible moment.

Her neck still burned even though he had quietly mentioned the wound had been… cauterized already.

Her fists clenched but she kept walking towards the sound of the roaring crowd.

Trying to save the world…

She squinted at the blazing daylight after coming from the darkened corridor, and the screams and cheers were almost deafening. She raised a hand up to block the sun but the crowd took that as a gesture of greeting and so she was bombarded with screams and cries. She flinched somewhat, there were more than a few derisions in the crowd as well.

She was after all… challenging their darling wasn't she. The champion. The "toughest fighter".

Buttercup was already out and about, waving smugly but keeping the same kind of scowl on her face- the "indifferent" look that the cameras had always gone crazy over.

Bubbles had had the charm. Buttercup the strength… Blossom…

They come just in time…

"That's the Pink one."

"Yeah, I heard she didn't even fight, she just barked out orders and made her sisters do all the work."

"Tch, wow just wow."

"I know right. Makes you wonder why her sisters put up with her."

"What a bitch."

"Right?"

The Powerpuff… Girls.

Blossom was the leader of course, the so called "responsible one", the one who made all the plans and made sure gee, no one died in a blaze of glory like any action movie. Behind the scenes, bottom of the popularity polls, the one the tourists would always mess the name up on the news after their first battle spectacle so to speak.

"Jeez, look who finally decided to show up, lookie here ladies and gentlemen- our challenger is here after all!"

Butch called from high above, perched back on his throne and Brick was sitting on another chair with a stony look on his face but he was gripping the arm rests tightly. She could almost see the whitening of his knuckles.

She shifted her shoulders and Buttercup finally seemed to take her in. Her brow rose.

"Don't we look serious." She gestured to Blossom's battle suit. Pristine and almost like new. The years of hard battle and wear and tear were missing, the pink accents stuck out like a sore thumb as did the… red leather jacket that now hung on her shoulders.

"You're the one who said I shouldn't fight in a dress."

She raised an inky eyebrow but then that… disturbingly familiar smirk crossed her face and she saw a darkened… kind of shadow over her sister's irises.

"True. But he's not subtle is he?" She snorted. "You look like a cheap valentine's day card." Another laugh. "What does he think pants will help you fight? Hmm…" She cradled her chin and then snapped a finger.

Her matching uniform seemed to materialize immediately; the crowd went wild at the sight. Of course, it did… this was her world. Her vision… her…dream.

And on the collar of her uniform vest… she saw the shining green stone encasing Nana Utonium's broach.

"We don't have to do this you know." Blossom murmured. Buttercup folded her arms. "Buttercup, whatever it is that's happened between us we can talk it out-."

"Giving up already? Scared Bossy Blossy?" She cooed. Blossom stiffened.

"Buttercup… this is bringing out the worst in you- this entire place just-!"

"Oh cry me a river Blossom." She flipped her hair back. "See that's always been the thing with you." She said silkily, "Your never finish what you start, you weasel yourself out of it by your 'my shit is made of vanilla ice cream' attitude- you look down on all of us lesser mortals like we're beneath you!"

She bristled. "That's not true."

"Prom ringing any bells?" Buttercup sneered. "Or Robin and Mike's wedding, how's about the big elephant in the room- your dearly departed ex… who we warned you about over and over again." She hissed again. "But God forbid the great Blossom Utonium listen to any of us lowly mortals eh!"

Badum. Badum.

"Dexter was a miscalculation on my part, I'll admit that now but-!"

"A miscalculation?! What you can't even call it what it was? A mistake!?" She snapped.

"Buttercup…"

Her eyes glinted again and Blossom saw that fervent lime light mixed with… a darker… more ominous shadow in her eyes once more.

"Save it! I ain't listening! See I don't have to listen to you here!" She held her arms out. "Hear that! Hear those screams?" The crowd roared as if on cue. "That's all I need now!"

"They're not real Buttercup!" Blossom snapped back.

"Tch, says you- your jealousy isn't very becoming Bossy Blossy." She smirked. "You always hated when people didn't just bow down to the almighty Pink Puff, the "leader"- well who did all the work eh!?" She stuck her finger out. "And who just stood around barking out orders! Is that a real warrior?! NO!"

"I was leading-!"

Again Blossom's reply was drowned out by screams and bellows and… they were aimed at Blossom now. Jeering, taunting, derogatory… she bit her lip.

Not real. This is just a dream.

The hit was savage and uncalled for. She went flying back, and the laughter just… oh that little…-!

"Cheap shot!" She shrilled and cradled her chin before wiping the blood off.

"Oooops." Buttercup snorted. "I thought that was a cue to start." She put on a mock "innocent" face before holding her hands out. "Go ahead Sister dear, have a free shot on me."

Blossom's fist went flying and was easily… caught. Uh oh. But… But she was always faster! Huh?!

Buttercup's smirk was practically…, sadistic before Blossom was sent flying back again. She saw stars that time but still managed to roll to the side to avoid those savage boots.

Her sister landed artfully in a crouch, she looked like a… demonic frog at that moment! Her eyes were flashing an eerie lime green that… gulp.

Her blood lust had been clearly heightened due to that… that moron sitting up there! She was enjoying this!

"Buttercup… Buttercup this isn't you! Just… hold on a moment-!"

She shrieked and ducked the kick that had been aimed at her head.

"Shut up! I don't have to listen to you anymore… now woman up and fight bitch!"

She was really going to have to do this… Blossom was… really going to have to fight… her own sister.

She looked up and caught those red eyes and the silent message they seemed to be… trying to give her.

I'm sorry.

Another punch interrupted her thoughts and she managed to whip around but it still caught her shoulder. She went sprawling on the ground and Buttercup…. Or the woman who had once been her sister… leered over her. Holding… what looked like a large rock.

Oh… shit.

-o-o-o-

"Damn it Butch! Call her off!" Brick lunged from his chair or at least tried to but those goddamn guards or whatever kept a hold on his shoulders. His teeth bared but Butch only returned the look evenly. Not even remotely fazed.

"Oh, please Brick, she'll be fine. She doesn't need to be pretty to be a blood bag."

Brick's grip on the arm rest tightened but thankfully the sickening crunch never came. Her leg flew up and she smashed it across the mad woman's ankles. Her balance shifted and Blossom jumped up and smashed her elbow in the crazed woman's nose before leaping out of the way of the outraged retaliating blow.

"Fuck man… should have made a mud pit am I right?" Butch took a sip from his… blood stash. "Sure you don't want a taste man? Nice and spicy."

"The only reason you're still conscious is the fact you have me surrounded by your fucking goons." Again his traitor of a brother didn't look the least perturbed. Brick's growling… grew louder.

"Is that right? Tch, yeah okay brother here's the thing, after this whole shit show there's gonna be some changes round here you dig?" Another sip.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Brick snarled.

"What you think it does- See there's a new Alpha now. I did the whole "mate" thing and well- as you can see-."

He gestured behind him where Blossom and Buttercup were… still fighting. Every hit was countered and it was evenly matched except…

She was holding back.

Fucking hell Blossom was still holding back!

He could tell and God… God damn it!

"Babe… c'mon." He hissed.

"Oh please, "everything nice" don't have shit on my lil' spicy firecracker out there. She should never have been leader or whatever in the first place." Sip.

"Haven't you had enough?" Brick hissed.

"I can never get enough of my mate's blood brother. Surprised that chick down there is still conscious honestly. Momma said it had never seen a more enthused human turn." Sip. "She don't have a chance. You picked the wrong one to place your bets on Brick." He snorted. "By a long shot."

Brick turned away in disgust.

Come on Babe… there's more at stake here than just one soul…

She whipped around in a roundhouse kick… which Buttercup caught easily and… fuck. Fuck NO!

She went facedown that time and the crazy chick grabbed her by the hair and hoisted her up.

"Blossom!" He bellowed out and these fucking-!

"Whoops." Butch snickered. "Looks like your pretty pet's not gonna have much blood left in her, my baby is hungry."

Badum. Badum. Badum.

….Blossom…

-o-o-o-

She was like a wild animal. No control. No thought process save one: Kill.

Buttercup had always been… impulsive. She'd relished… far too much looking back, at the punishments inflicted on the monsters… the criminals, the super villains… it didn't matter.

She'd… enjoyed their pain.

Her own sense of….justice in a way.

And now… Blossom realized her sister's way of looking at the world had turned her into the enemy. Starting even from high school and the prom incident.

She looked at the world in such a black and white perspective, good was good, bad was bad. And true… true Blossom had used to think the same thing but… but-!

"Buttercup. I'm not the enemy here, he-!" She pointed up. "He's the enemy! The one who did this to you!"

"Shut up!" She snapped and Blossom barely dodged another kick. "You think that lame ass managed to do anything to me? Oh please!" Blossom blocked another punch. "Do I look like some silly damsel in distress to you?" She snorted and they circled each other. "That lame ass up there can't do shit on his own. So imagine my surprise when he just shows up at the bar with quite the little story to tell."

Blossom stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"Your little Vampy lover boy up there is quite meticulous with his planning ain't he? He didn't leave a thing to chance! But his brothers, oh they didn't like that."

Badum.

"So Butchy Boy over there came to me, offered me a deal."

W-What!?

"And sure I didn't believe it at first but then you know… some of the shit he was saying shockingly began to make sense." Her smile grew. "Why should we have to listen to a bunch of weaklings… when we're better than any stupid human."

Blossom hesitated, "Buttercup, you know that's not how we are."

"Maybe how you are- but you're lower than me too. Strength wins the day, and you know I have more than that than you ever will."

She clenched a fist.

"That's where you're mistaken. You're brash-!" Another punch. She dodged it. "You're impulsive!" Kick. "You're completely out of control!" PUNCH.

"Control?" Buttercup… or the dream version of Buttercup just barked out a laugh. "Who the fuck needs control when I'm the one in charge in the first place!"

This kick made it's target.

The laughter was… unhinged. She grit her teeth.

"Oopsie, I missed. Your head is still on."

Oh God… did… Did Buttercup hate her this much!?

… No. Of course not. This wasn't real. This wasn't real!

Once again Blossom turned her gaze to that smirking… wretch up there. He'd obviously tricked her! Tricked her into drinking that vile disgusting… he was truly odious. Look at him leering down at the two of them, guzzling down more and more from that cup while Brick looked at him in disgust.

He was truly out of control… and so was his creation.

She was laughing hysterically with each hit. It was like every time Blossom made contact it was just… funny to her.

She clenched her fists and again… looked up.

Brick was arguing with Butch up there. Snarling, pointing madly at the scene below them, his teeth were grit… his eyes… blazing.

Badum.

Her throat… suddenly felt dry again. Just the sight of him was making her…

No. He hadn't given her much. She hadn't ingested enough to truly affect her save in an artificial way! Just… it was a means to an end.

A means…

"Oye! I'm over here you know!" Buttercup called, Blossom whipped around and barely avoided another hit. Enough of this!

She whipped around in kick of her own but it was caught easily.

Shit.

The smile didn't bode well. Sure enough Blossom got thrown on the ground headfirst and… she saw the glimmer of fangs and… shit. SHIT!

She rolled to the side. "Buttercup! Stop!" The growl was beastlike and the Pink Puff scrambled away from the bite. She put a shaky hand on her head and traced the blood… shit. She felt a shiver down her spine and stole another look behind her- the last thing she needed was oh she didn't know- a ravenous red haired vampire going after her blood again like-!

He was watching the scene but was stiff as a board- his knuckles white and the guards behind him… she noticed were holding him down by the shoulders.

She gulped but another breathy shriek and her sister…. Or the woman who had formerly been her sister grabbed her by the hair and hoisted her up.

She was out of control. She was…insane… for blood. It didn't matter whose blood. She was completely… lost at this point.

She didn't know much about vampires. She hadn't read the "Moonrise" series or whatever that Bubbles had been utterly obsessed with but… her behavior was reminiscent to the few scenes in the movie she had seen after the girl in question had been turned and went after…

She was a newborn. She had no control over herself. Brick had described the bloodlust of a demon being a "fix" not… a need so to speak for survival.

Which… made it worse.

She wouldn't care where it came from, and a Chemical X laced… demon newborn or whatever unleashed on the city…

Was that Him's plan all along? Turn the boys into blood thirsty killers… and the girls… into their permanent victims before… they joined out of desperation.

It sickened me.

She clenched her teeth and heard the hollering, the blood thirsty crowd, no longer the loving and familiar faces she had known but twisted caricatures of them all.

It wasn't real.

None of this was real.

She glared up at the ringleader who was out of his seat and cheering and hollering while his brother was struggling to break free from the grips of those….faceless demons holding him down.

"DO IT BABY! DO IT! END THIS!" Butch cawed and held his arms up.

They were savages. All of them. This wasn't any sort of "dream" this was a living nightmare! Buttercup… her sister… no… this wasn't Buttercup.

This was no Powerpuff Girl!

But…

When in Rome Blossom… When in Rome.

At the moment… NEITHER WAS BLOSSOM!

She kicked behind her and then whipped around, caught the imposter in a headlock before-

AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH

The scream was shrill before she shook Blossom off and she wiped her mouth before spitting at the ground.

"YOU BIT ME YOU CRAZY BITCH!" She tensed. "Wait… How the fuck did you-!? HE MARKED YOU!?"

"WHAT!?"

Butch's voice echoed and what sounded like a loud crash and two loud thumps sounded behind them. Brick was perched on the side of the wall. Butch jumped from his chair and Brick…

He winked.

"Leaders for a reason Babe!" He pointed.

"You… YOU FUCKING CHEATER!" Butch bellowed and a green and red blurs flashed above them as the brothers went at it.

Buttercup was breathing hard.

"You…You can't be serious…. You'd never have-!" She stuttered.

Blossom snorted. "When in Rome Buttercup. When in Rome."

She gaped and then… her face seemed to darken.

"You… You… bitch!" The girl lunged and Blossom was ready this time. She countered the hit and sent the green eyed woman flying back but she landed on her feet and lunged forward. Blossom caught her wrists and held her back from raking her face.

The blood was slippery on her hands.

"You never know when to leave well enough alone do you!" The vampire woman snarled. "Can't just let me have a fucking break! Oh no you have to meddle you busybody bitch!" She shrilled.

"Really Buttercup." Blossom snarled. "Can't you think of a more original insult?"

Another inhuman screech. Buttercup lunged, Blossom ducked and the ink haired woman went crashing into a wall. She whipped around, glaring at Blossom with nothing but… a feral hatred it seemed even as she struggled out of her own rubble pile.

She felt a chill in her but… the blood was seeping down her arm and soaking.

Another loud crash behind them and the red and dark green blurs had stopped, Butch had Brick in a headlock (!) but… he was still. He had frozen in mid… attack.

What…? Wait…

The coppery tangy… yet spicy smell filled her nose.

Had a few slip ups… but I'm nowhere near Boomer and both of us aren't anywhere close to Butch.

Nowhere close to… Butch.

Buttercup was still trying to get out of the rubble pit she'd managed to trap herself in, the blood flowed… and the tingling in Blossom's own nose… strengthen. Her throat was dry, dry and raw… but she wasn't near the level Buttercup was.

Brick hadn't given her nearly the same as… Butch.

…Butch.

The blood was flowing, Butch was heaving but he was no longer attempting to rip Brick's head off his body… no it seemed almost… lack luster of an attempt now. His focus was solely on…

The burning in Blossom's throat grew but she ignored it. Swallowed it down, it was temporary after all… but…

Quietly Blossom bent down and picked up a piece of rubble, sharpened almost to… a point. A sharp edge.

Fighting… crime…

Buttercup… or the demon who looked like Buttercup was still stuck… but she was almost out. Blossom kept a grip on the rock.

"Surrender the stone Buttercup." She said quietly.

Trying to save the world…

"Tch… Bite… bite me Grandma!" She hissed.

They come just in time….

"Last chance Buttercup. Surrender."

The spit hit Blossom's cheek. Her grip hardened.

"As if I'd surrender to anyone weaker than me!" She hissed. "Because you are, if you hadn't fucking cheated you'd be the one down here!" Another hiss. "But what a shock, her almighty Puff Highness bends the rules to suit her and everyone else suffers the consequences."

She stiffened.

"Because Blossom Utonium can do no wrong- little Miss Perfect! A perfect little… lie."

They come just… in time…

"You couldn't beat me in a fair fight. You never could, just like you couldn't beat Bubbles in a popularity contest, or Robin in the fucking race to the altar! They despised you, you know.. everyone despises you!" She snarled. "And I hate you for being the prissy, fucking self righteous hypocrite you are…. Everything nice… my ass."

Silence.

Badum. Badum.

They come…just in…time.

The cut was shallow and Blossom held up the struggling girl like a rag doll. The stone covered in blood from the new slash across the imposter's chest

"You're right Buttercup… I'm not the strong one. I'm not the fast one, I'm not the popular one or even the pretty one, I'm not liked… but do you know what I am?"

The ink haired girl seemed to shudder, whether from pain or fear… Blossom no longer cared.

"I'm the smart one." She whispered before she reached around, grabbed the brooch and then pushed the girl down. Her blood stained the ground, and she frantically tried to cover up the cut, but the smell was overpowering almost even for Blossom… so imagine what it must have been like for…

The growl was low and ferocious. Blossom's lip curled somewhat as the green-eyed girl scrambled back up and began backing away.

"You… GIVE THAT BACK!"

The green flash was instant, the growling low and throaty, his eyes blazed with a darkened combination of what looked like lust… and hunger. Though honestly… was there a difference between the two?

She backed away serenely as Butch stalked forward.

"Don't even fucking think about it!" Buttercup snapped. "You had you fucking fix today!"

Butch was beyond listening. There was too much blood around, the scent was overpowering. Blossom took the sharpened stone again and wordlessly, efficiently sliced a line into her own cheek. The two stiffened for different reasons.

Blossom dropped the stone at Buttercup's feet.

The sisters' eyes met.

The Powerpuff Girls.

The lunge was instant- her sister disappeared in a flash of dark green light and snarls. Blossom calmly pocketed the green stone before picking up a larger rock and going behind them.

"Damn it you idiot! Let go! Control yourself you fucking moron-!"

WHAM

The Rowdyruff was unconscious. The Powerpuff was trapped underneath him.

Three stones. Three challenges.

Blossom was done.

The scream echoed- it wasn't any of theirs. It sounded outraged. Furious.

The collaseum… the area around them… it… it was collapsing!?

The roaring was growing louder, angrier… and the sky…

The sky… went dark…

The sky went red.

She clutched the stones to her and backed away but hit something solid.

Brick's grip on her arm was like steel.

"Run." He said quietly.

"What?"

"Mommy's very angry." Brick said in another hiss.

"….M-Mommy?"

The roaring… the creatures in the stands.. they all seemed to turn to stare at her at once. Faceless… expressionless…

"Blossom- RUN!" The pull was instant as they bolted out of the collapsing… illusion.

-o-o-o-

Run. Just keep running.

Their pounding footsteps echoed through… the empty darkness that surrounded her. Where…, where the hell were they going!?

"Brick? Where are we-!?"

"The exit!" Brick said breathlessly "Just keep running!"

The exit… as in…

I won.

She couldn't believe it had…. Worked. It had a really worked! She'd… she'd won! Ha ha ha! She'd won! She paused and Brick whirled around, his eyes wild but… she won! SHE WON!

"I won." Blossom said breathlessly. "I won the challenge! I can go home!"

He gave her a wry smile even as he pulled her once more into a sprint.

"That you did, congratulations, I don't think I'll ever forget that crazy woman's face when you ever cut your cheek- which by the way, well done. Fuck Babe I didn't think you had it in you." He shook his head. "You're hell of a woman Blossom Utonium."

Her smile was big as she drank in his praise. Well deserved obviously but…

They all despise you…

…No. She'd been mistaken. It was just another cruel trick, an illusion like the mirrors!

Her sister would never say such a thing. Never. She shook her head quickly.

"What's wrong?" He murmured.

"… Nothing. Just um… that was a…, nasty fight is all."

He frowned, "Which you kicked ass at. I'm proud."

Her cheeks warmed more. "I… well thank you I suppose you don't have to… proud of me I was quite… quite aware of the situation. It was a means to an end. It had to be done and it's not like he's going to hurt her…. You said so yourself…"

"He's a lustful blood horn dog yeah I know." Brick shook his head. " I just….the way you beat her… it… it was genius." He grinned. "Fucking hell Babe… it was brilliant."

Her eyes burned and fuck it, just… fuck it! She threw her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck, clung to him unashamedly and he threw his arms around her, she was… laughing. Laughing out loud and soon she was being spun around and oh who cares!

"I won! I won! See! You doubted me!"

"Lesson learned clearly! God Babe that was the best fucking… that'll go down in the history books for sure!"

"Naturally!"

Obviously Blossom had known she would be victorious in the end because that's… just what was always the way of things! Evil never won! Good triumphs over evil!

He set her back on her feet and she grinned back up at him.

Good…. Just good. Good…

Her knees buckled and she was steadied.

"Easy Blossom… easy." He murmured. She rested her head on his arm. "You're okay, just rest for a bit." He murmured.

"Do we have time?"

"We can make time." He said quietly as he knelt them both down. Again, she buried herself in his hold.

It was silent.

He only held her….gently…it was… strange. It was like her entire world had simply…stopped at the moment. The hours that had passed.

"How much time did I have left?" She whispered. He pulled her closer.

"One." He murmured. "Just one."

She smiled, "Told you I could do it."

"That you did."

His demeanor seemed to sober, as he smoothed her hair down with his hand. She nuzzled instinctively, strange… imagine anyone seeing her now… resting so… peacefully next to the one who had…

"Why did you take me Brick?" She murmured. "You told me that… it was my face… my determination or whatever… but… you could have just done what… Butch or Boomer did… why did you give me this challenge?"

He was quiet. Her cheeks still burned.

"Never mind, I suppose it doesn't matter-."

"Because I love you."

Badum. Badum. Badum.

"…Love?"

More silence. The word hung between them and she… swallowed hard.

"I… don't know what to say Brick-."

"You don't have to say anything. I know Babe, I'm a big boy. I can take it." He gave her… a shadowed smile. "Guess I just.. didn't want to be… alone anymore is all."

She bit her lip.

"Brick…I-." She trailed. How was she supposed to end that sentence? She didn't …. Love him back. She couldn't just force it, pretend it, she hadn't known him… long enough… this wasn't a movie, this was real…

"Brick-." She started again. He shook his head.

"You have to go Blossom. Now."

The three stones were pressed in her hand. "You got em' back. You should move. Mother won't be pleased…." He grimaced at what sounded like a high-pitched outraged scream suddenly echoed the room once more. She stiffened and Brick… just froze before he shoved her forward down a path.

"Go Blossom."

Wait…

"Brick… what about-?" She turned back to him. He stiffened. Her heart began to pound. "What about you? What's going to happen to you?"

His silence was horrifying. Her neck burned, she grasped it and he seemed to… grimace at that too.

"That'll go away in a few days. Put ice on it, keep it covered. Listen Babe…" he stopped and then cupped her face. "Blossom I mean… don't worry about me. This entire mess start to finish is my fault."

"Butch and Boomer both-!"

"Because they were pissed at me. And they're going to be even more pissed by the time I'm through with them."

She shuddered; she didn't doubt it but…

"Brick…"

He released her. She immediately felt cold especially as he gave her a salute… versus the embrace she would have vastly preferred. Her cheeks warmed, her eyes burned but… she finally nodded before swallowing the thick lump in her throat and began to remove the leather jacket at last. He shook his head.

"Nah Babe… keep it. Looks better on you than me anyway. Now go, and don't look back."

Their eyes met once more and she bit her lip before finally… she backed away.

"Thank you… Brick." She whispered.

He smiled then. A genuine smile. Her heart clenched even more as he gave her another wave before… she saw the shadows surround him. No…oh God no!

"Brick-!"

He whipped around and she saw a flash of red and fire… before he was… on his knees again. Being held down again… she lurched forward.

Oh my my… naughty little boy…

She froze at that high pitched… terrifyingly familiar falsetto.

Did you really think you would get away with such a trick… such a fiasco? In my domain?

Badum. Badum. Badum.

"Damn right… I did… and I am-! BLOSSOM GO!"

"Brick-!" She tried to reach him but the path began to collapse.

"Babe, you're not going to get another chance! I'll be fine! Just GO!"

Oh I wouldn't count on that.

She shook her head.

…And then he gave her another… of those small smiles. Her eyes burned more.

"Go… Blossom." He murmured before… he pushed the demons holding him… back and then…

He was gone.

He… He was gone.

Her knees began to shake.

"Brick…" She whispered. "Brick…?"

Silence.

He.. He had…

Go… Blossom.

The pulsing stones in her hand felt… heavy. A heavy burden.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

She scowled and rubbed her eyes before taking a deep breath and turning to walk down the path.

Don't look back. Don't.

She wouldn't. She couldn't… she…

Fighting… crime… trying to save the…

The stones were growing heavier and heavier, for the love of! She looked at the two stones they were barely the size of walnuts! Why did they weigh as much as a damn anvil!? When was this X repression or whatever going to wear off!

Fighting to… Crime… trying…

If it wore off. She shuddered. What would the city do if their favorite pickle jar openers were suddenly out of business. Oh horrors, true earth shattering panic would ensue-!

They'll run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Oh wait they do that anyway.

Oh hush.

Fighting… crime…

She paused. It was too quiet, there was no sarcastic rumble in her ear with a raspy snicker in its wake. Instead… silence.

Trying to…

Silence and… she was alone.

Save the… OH WHO CARED!

With two ludicrously heavy stones that- for God's sake lazy bones! Wake up! The two stones finally fell to the ground and she swore but two bright flashes of light erupted and…. There they were.

"Ouchies...my head."

"What the fuck ow!"

She almost felt her knees buckle again. "Girls…" she whispered and the two's heads shot up and Blossom's vision swam. "GIRLS!"

"Huh? Blossy you okay- oh?" Bubbles immediately returned the embrace.

"The fuck are you screaming bout- oh...um hi?" Buttercup patted Blossom's back awkwardly. "uh… there...there?"

She grasped both of them tightly. "Oh thank God, thank God!" She held them both at arm's length. Bubbles looked a little bruised and Buttercup slightly more wear for tear but her neck was perfectly clear and thank God for that.

"What's going on?" Bubbles whispered.

"Don't know. Okay Grandma, get off me." Buttercup shoved her off and patted her clothes down. "Where the fuck are we and…. Nice jacket. Nice to see you're not part cotton candy after all- seriously though where the fuck are we?" She put a hand on her hip. "And where's the erstwhile Romeo I really hope you finally threw to the curb. Or the volcano. Either option is acceptable."

"You… you don't remember?" Blossom murmured. Her sister gave her a withering look.

"The last thing I remember is you being completely plastered and chasing after the dick head to hopefully blast his brains out. Me being the delightfully loyal sister I am followed to make sure you had an alibi-but then… nothing." She furrowed her brow. "Nothing admittedly nothing. I don't like nothing the fuck happened?"

"Yeah… I thought I heard you screaming Blossy … but then… same." She looked at Buttercup. "We heard you screaming…."

"No, we heard her committing murder." Buttercup mumbled. "Or just about to."

"No. I heard screaming." Bubbles tapped her foot. "Buttercup stop acting all big and bad you were the one who bolted out of there. You thought he had like antidote X or something in a gun. Admit it."

Buttercup was silent but then buzzed her lips.

"The only one allowed to mess with my sister is me." She muttered. "You okay? You look like shit."

Blossom stiffened but then… nodded.

"Yes. I'll explain later girls but… we need to go."

The high-pitched scream echoed again followed by a loud deep roar that put a chill down her spine followed by a…

Wait… That deeper… base…, that roar of… had that been…?

Badum. Badum.

"The fuck was that!?"

"Where are we?!"

Brick….

"... Somewhere. And we need to move. Come on!"

She grabbed both of their hands and spend down the path where there was a faint light at the end of the tunnel…

Tch… how… how poetically ...fitting.

The light at the end of a tunnel… the… end.

The roar sounded again. Again her chest clenched.

The roar and screeching continued in the distance long behind them.

"Jesus christ… someone's not happy." Buttercup muttered.

"Not at all." Bubbles gulped. "Okay, I don't know what's going on here but um can we leave?"

"...Yeah. I'm with the blonde, let's go Ribbon chick." Buttercup said quickly and grabbed her elbow.

Don't look back.

Another roar, closer it seemed and… then… silence.

Don't look back…. Don't look…

"What the-!? Blossom where are you-?!"

"Head for the exit! I'll be right back, there's something… there's something else I have to do!"

"Blossom!?"

Her sister's protests became faded background noise as she bolted back down the path.

-o-o-o-

His cheek stung but whatever.

He grit his teeth and kept on walking. The thick club in his hands would do the trick. His powers had been stripped. Of course they had. Mother dear was pissed and the little brat had gone and whined like the little brat he was - it wasn't like Butch was dead, he was… unconscious. Likely with a headache.

He'd live.

Let them fuss around the ungrateful traitor. He was lucky Brick hadn't gotten to him before that insane Puff had.

Point was, they couldn't do a damn thing without Brick and those fuckers knew it.

So let them stew, let them "punish him".

He didn't regret it. He didn't regret anything.

He'd let her go and…. Fuck if he cared that "Mommy's plan" was ruined. Oh boo fucking hoo!

Brick was about to make Mother cry a lot more! He swung the club that o' so helpful guard had been so kind as to surrender when Brick had smashed his head into the nearest door frame… three times.

Forever had never seemed more… empty than at moment.

It was ironic… wasn't it… the spider had gotten ensnared in his own web.

Tch… ha… irony.

He raised the club. It wouldn't take much. Just one… single… moment.

"Brick!"

He froze. What…? The pounding of steps echoed… but… wait… no… no she couldn't have-!

"B-Blossom?" He sputtered. Wait this wasn't-! What the hell was she-!?

The figure crashed into him and he was dreaming. He had to have been dreaming, maybe Mother had hit him harder than he thought but there was… there was no way she was…

Here.

" I- I couldn't!" She buried her face in his shirt. "I know you said- but I heard… I heard the screams and the commotion and... and I knew it was you and I couldn't just leave you here!" Her arms wrapped around his waist but Brick… Brick couldn't move. He couldn't…

This wasn't happening. Mother was a tricky bitch when it wanted to be. This was his punishment obviously.

"Blossom…."

She looked up at him. "You don't deserve this!" She hissed. "You don't!" Another fervent shaking of her head. "You don't deserve to be punished for doing the right thing!"

He flinched. "Babe… why did you…" He cast a quick look behind his shoulder. No sign yet but he didn't have much time left before-!

"I couldn't… leave you." She whispered.

Badum.

"Blossom… you can't stay here-." He protested feebly but that grip on him and her eyes glimmered with unshed tears…. Wait no there they were.

"I know that!" She grasped his shirt. "I know that damn it but I don't care! I'm not leaving you here all alone! I don't want you to be alone anymore!"

Badum. Badum.

"What… what are you saying?"

"I got my sisters out. They left. They're safe. But… but I realized it there's one more person who I needed to save." She murmured. "So here I am."

His chest lurched and the grip on his club became… shaky but… no. No damn it! She didn't even realize what she was saying-!

"Blossom. There's. No. Saving. Me." He held up the club. "There's nothing left to save." He said quickly. "Blossom listen to me-!"

"No!" She snapped. "You listen to me!" She poked him hard in the chest. "There's a heart in there, I can feel it beating, and see-." She took his hand and slapped it over her own. "It's a match to mine. You love me… you said so yourself…" She whispered.

"...And you don't love me." He murmured.

"...Yet."

Badum. Badum. Badum.

Her face was a picture, her cheeks a bright red and she cleared her throat. "I….I'm too logical… a person to… to fall in love… so… so quickly. There's too many factors but…." She lowered her gaze. "I...I'm not going to say… it's impossible for us..." She murmured. "Someday… we just… need time. I…need time."

He sucked in a breath. His hands began to sweat, his heart was in overdrive, an unfamiliar feeling… admittedly. Before he sucked in a deep breath of his own.

"What are you saying….Blossom?" He kept his voice low… and as controlled as possible in the circumstances.

"Come with me… Brick." She whispered.

Silence.

"...That wasn't the plan Babe." He murmured back.

"I don't care. That was your plan… not mine." She held out a hand.

"...I don't have anywhere to go Blossom…"

"Lucky for you I have a vacant bedroom… I no longer have a need for a lab in my home now do I?"

Her hand was still outstretched. That… beautiful… unexpected… but breathtaking...hand.

Still though… Brick hesitated.

"Brick. Come with me…. Please."

She had no idea what she was saying. She had no idea what…

"I've already fucked up your life enough Blossom Utonium."

"I don't want…. To live out a life without you in it... Brick Jojo."

The silence dragged on. He swallowed thickly.

The slim hand was still outstretched.

Clatter.

The club dropping to the ground echoed through the room. He closed his eyes as she held him as tightly… as he had ever… dreamed.

Let's go home… Brick.

What about the city… they're not going to be happy to see me.

Let me handle them.

-o-o-o-

Two Weeks Later

-o-

In the end his fears while… understandable had been unnecessary.

Those idiots in City Hall had demanded some sort of foolish investigation into what was only being called the "Volcano Incident" by the media as well as the civilians.

A narrowly averted disaster and they'd looked for someone to blame. He had been their first target, and she'd been infuriated to discover their plans to keep him indefinitely in some sort of holding cell until he was sufficiently "cleared" of whatever foolish crime those imbeciles had come up with to frame him.

Even her sisters though understandably confused and rather…, cautious had nonetheless been just as outraged. Their memories still fuzzy of that night it… hadn't been hard to… "fill in the blanks" and Brick's… slip up so to speak had been easily turned into a heroic rescue of sorts.

Imagine an Antidote X' fueled gun and an insanely jealous ex-boyfriend who didn't want to let her go.

How lucky Blossom had been Brick had just so happened to be… err in the area after a long absence! Yes.

It was slightly annoying being relegated to a "damsel in distress" figure sure but if it was the only thing capable of capturing all of their insipid imaginations so public pressure to just let…, Brick be and disregard his unfortunate…. Juvenile record then so be it.

Dexter on the other hand- it was amazing how easily public opinion could be manipulated. Again… it hadn't been hard. A few statements from her sisters, a closed interview of Blossom being mysteriously "leaked" and… a shocking… letter from one Mrs. Robin… Believe.

The pristine image of Dexter was destroyed and when the… charred remains were discovered a short few days after Blossom's… disappearance ( also now having been shown to be being held hostage by a deranged madman), combined with her sister's lack of memory and Brick's passing of a polygraph test ( which were apparently easy to fool for a… demon) well… all in all… it had been a… shockingly easy cover story to sell… and live with come to find out.

"A Rowdyruff Boy as a hero. Right, how long am I going to have to lay low Babe?" Brick snickered as he lowered the paper and gave her a mocking smile. She rolled her eyes.

"They'll be all over you as the hottest story so I'd give it a week. Give or take."

"So… don't leave the house then?" He snickered.

"I'm not planning on it." She

"Fine by me. I've got more important shit to do anyway." He stood.

"Like?" She opened the fridge, but it was softly closed from behind her. Her smile was tremulous but… a nervous little giggle escaped her anyway. He wasn't going to let her live that down was he… sure enough she felt his mouth on the back of her neck.

"I think you can guess." He murmured and… she sighed but that was rather predictable wasn't it.

"Oh, I'm sure-."

"Learn how to play chess for example, there's an app for everything I've come to find out."

She blinked. "...Yes… learning…. To play chess is one thing… you could do I guess?"

-o-o-o-

One month, 3 days
-o-

"I think I'm going to go out for my G.E.D." She started but Brick barely looked up from his book after that shocking statement. Like it wasn't even a big deal! Which it absolutely was!

"Really?" Blossom exclaimed. He turned a page idly.

"Well I don't intend on remaining "uneducated" on paper it shouldn't take me long if I take the accelerated courses, plus how else am I going to win the heart of the Puff genius without at least a high school diploma." He threw her a wry smile and she felt her heart flutter a bit.

"It's barely been a month, have some patience." She giggled. She was doing that a lot lately. Everyone had commented on it, even Robin. Well especially Robin, who also claimed some sort of prize or whatever for "calling it" whatever that meant.

….it was good to have her best friend back. It'd been a weepy phone call on both sides but Blossom having been missing for three days - Brick had been in the doghouse for that one - had apparently put a lot of things into perspective….

Needless to say, Robin and Blossom now had a semiweekly coffee date of sorts to make up for lost time and Brick was slowly becoming accustomed to well… regular life. She saw him still at times avoid… certain juices or wine. Anything red. He was embarrassed about it clearly, so she didn't bring it up, but he was clearly trying.

His powers hadn't returned. The "anti X'" bullet or whatever had hit him in such a way it was impossible to get it all out. That had been the cover story. The girls had obviously known the truth…. Him's punishment seemed to be… permanent.

So, she would watch him slowly becoming accustomed to walking everywhere, not being able to carry all the groceries in one hand and having to reluctantly accede a few to her. Vampires or well… ex vampires could be chivalrous apparently.

"I am patient." He broke her out of her thoughts. "But I'm also a man… give me a break."

Mmm… and what a man he was…

She turned from him wryly, "Well if you're serious I'll talk to the Professor… you should honestly just be able to take a test or something and not have to bother with the classes… and I'm sure he can… pull a string or two and get you into next semester."

His returning smile was genuine.

"I think I'd like that."

-o-o-o-

Two months
-o-

"I'm so proud of you!" She gushed and well screw it! Not even caring who saw she jumped in his arms and he spun her around.

Bubbles yelped but then burst out laughing at the sudden perhaps slightly out of character display but she kept her grip on her coffee cup and had serenely caught Blossom's when the redhead had lurched out of her seat and greeted the newest and proudest graduate of Townsville High School!

"Congratulations Brick!" She chirped but Blossom forget she was there honestly.

She felt a little bad later on when she realized Bubbles had taken her leave from weekly sisterly chat read as gossip session, but a phone call smoothed everything over rather quickly…

Though really were the innuendos necessary?

"I dunno Babe… I kind of like the sound of it." He murmured into her neck. Blossom flushed.

"... I need more time Brick… it's not that I don't… just… everything that happened I just don't want to well… fuck anything up again…"

"We got all the time in the world." He chuckled. "I'm not going anywhere after all."

Her blush increased.

Three months
-o-

"Glad to see you've upgraded sister dear." Buttercup said over her beer. "But don't think I'm not watching you Rowdyruff." Another sip. "You continue being a good boy, you hear."

"...Woof." He muttered. "Seriously you make me sound like a damn dog."

"I mean… vampire… werewolf, is there a difference?" Buttercup was also clearly not on her first drink…

"Buttercup…" Blossom began warningly.

Brick took a sip of his water and then put his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah, vamps don't slobber everywhere." He said pointedly. The table went silent, before…

Snicker.

"Point. Very good point Rowdyruff." She shook her head then gestured to Blossom. "This one makes me laugh. Don't fuck this one up Grandma."

Blossom bristled but put a hand over Nana's necklace.

"I'm not planning too."

Her other hand trailed on his leg. He tensed slightly.

"Three months…. Is after all a decent amount of time I think to know when there's no fuck up to be had."

He stiffened more but caught her eye.

Their excuse was terrible as they hastily excused themselves and BUttercup's raucous laugh was hardly discreet but…

Three months was a long enough wait.

-o-o-o-
Four months
-o-

"Literature?"

He nodded and took up the laptop again, she looked over his naked shoulder.

"It's what I'm good at. I figure I could become a teacher or librarian or something." He shrugged. Blossom blinked but then quickly hid her face in his hair. ""What- what's so funny?" He demanded.

"N-Nothing. Just. Heheeee- Um… Brick the librarian… sputter. Snort. Hehehe… - It's um… kind of cute."

He frowned. "It was just an idea." He mumbled.

"Well you'd certainly attract more young people there that's for sure." She tightened her grip on his shoulders. "Though they can look but not touch."

He threw her a wry smile. "But what if a cute pink eyed girl comes into my lair?" He snickered. "How am I supposed to resist that?"

She pursed her lips. "That is a problem isn't it. How very sad for her. What would Mr. Jojo recommend then?" She slipped away from him and leaned back into the pillows.

"Depends what Miss Pink likes." He countered instantly before closing the laptop. "I've read probably… every major Latin work at least twice."

She shivered. "Only Latin?" A mock pout. "No Italian, Portuguese... "

His arms caged her in.

"What can I say… I'm an old soul… who likes the classics." He murmured into her neck.

She closed her eyes.

"... Will you teach me Latin someday?" She whispered.

"You want to learn?"

"Yes."

"Alright then… someday."

"Why not tomorrow?"

He paused for a moment, but then caressed her face. "It's a long process. Sure, you can handle it?"

"I can conquer anything you know that."

His grip was harder then.

"Yeah…. That I do. Except me in chess."

She snorted. "Oh, please Brick, I can kick your sorry ass any day of the week."

"Wanna bet?"

"Sure, what will I win?"

His lips trailed hers. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

-o-o-o-

Five months
-o-

"Checkmate." She said serenely. He blinked and stared at the board.

"Oh, what the fuck…" He groaned. She beamed triumphant.

"Looks like dinner is on you again sweetheart."

"Yeah, Yeah- god damn it. Italian or Chinese…."

She looked at the board where she'd effectively trapped him into a surrender once again.

It was strange… he'd just kept falling for such obvious traps with her… when she'd watched him on the app beat the computer with simply savage plays and…. She cocked her head.

…. He wasn't letting her win… was he?

...No. Of course not.

That wouldn't make any sense.

-o-o-o-

Six months, 6 days
-o-

"I'm home!" She called out and plopped her work bag on the floor before strolling into the living room, a pile of books stood on the coffee table, and a redhead was lounged shirtless on her couch engrossed in what looked like-.

"Isn't that a children's book?" She sat on the loveseat.

"In theory- I wouldn't say it's a hundred percent for kids, it's actually somewhat disturbing. Even for me." He flapped the cover listlessly; the white rabbit being chased by the little girl on the cover gave the illusion of well moving.

"Well yes, I suppose it's creepy when you think about it." He nodded.

"Yeah we all had to pick a piece of kids lit and analyze it or whatever." He flipped another page. "It was this or Twain. No thanks."

"Got the short end of the stick again huh?" She frowned. He sighed.

"Yeah, not surprising, I might be a "hero" or whatever but there are still some people out there who you know…" He trailed but then shrugged. "Comes with the territory Babe, don't you worry your pretty had about it."

"You know that's not how I operate." She muttered. She'd talk to her father. If Brick was being treated unfairly due to his past well… someone needed to stop it.

"Babe." He said again. "I see that look, don't worry about it. Come on, it's not that big a deal. They're just pissed I'm number one in the class is all." He sat up and patted the spot next to him. "Now what you are doing over there, there's plenty of room." He smirked and wagged an eyebrow.

"I thought you had homework." She teased. He rolled his eyes and flipped through the pages before shutting the book with a flourish.

"Now I don't. Now c'mere."

Blossom rolled her eyes but nonetheless did what her foolish boyfriend requested.

He always made it worth her while after all.

She'd won the game indeed.

-o-o-o-

Seven months

-o-

"Checkmate."

She looked from the kitchen where she was prepping dinner and he was 'just finishing a match' before he'd come in.

She leaned over the island.

"I don't get it." She called. He looked up at that. She cradled her chin. "You never lose against the computer."

He snorted. "Please, A.I. plays by the rules that's no victory, the real challenge is playing online." He snickered. "Just like now- some sap is cursing up a storm halfway across the world." He cracked his knuckles and stretched out before strolling over to her side.

Blossom narrowed her eyes. "That's exactly my point. How do you never win against me? Statistically that makes no sense." She blew a piece of hair from her face which he tucked behind her ear before starting his share of dinner prep.

"You're a damn good player Babe. What can I say?" He shrugged.

"But we're equals on the intelligence scale." He raised an eyebrow, but she put her hands on her hips. "We're evenly matched, you play much more aggressively than I do, and you certainly show it to the people you continually destroy online." She tapped her foot. "you're not letting me win, are you?"

He rolled his eyes. "No."

"You sure."

He folded his arms and gave her an odd look.

"What's the issue Babe, you telling me you want to lose?"

"... No." She finally mumbled. He laughed. "I'm just saying it's… weird is all."

He shrugged. "Not everything goes according to plan now does it?" Brick gave her a meaningful look which she turned from with a huff.

"No. No it does not."

But what plan was he even talking about?

-o-o-o-

Eight months

-o-

Work was piling up. She was getting home later and later this month… ugh.

A steaming cup of coffee was put in front of her like a gift from heaven and she lifted her eyes to the sky and accepted the kiss that shortly followed.

"I love you." She breathed.

"I know." He said with a smirk.

Smug bastard. Though, she frowned and scooted closer. "You look tired." She murmured and put a hand to his brow.

"Prep for finals." He murmured and lolled his head back, she shifted so it would rest on her shoulder instead as she looked at the contracts she'd brought home.

"Big promotion in your sights huh?" He murmured.

"Long overdue." She murmured back whole playing with his hair. "It should have been mine last year."

"Tch, these idiots really didn't know what they had did they?" His eyes were closed. "Morons. Oh well."

She frowned, "I'll be in charge soon enough." Blossom agreed.

"Yes, you will…" another sleepy mumble. "My...queen."

Huh… didn't someone sound oddly… certain… and had he called her…?

"Brick… what did you just-?" She said quietly.

Silence. He was fast asleep. She frowned more, well… she'd slept in stranger ways… after all.

He was just tired. It was fine.

Everything was… fine.

-o-o-o-

Nine months

-o-

The pawn was in danger but… no it was too easy. Far too easily spotted.

Sure, enough Brick saw through the ruse and attacked- the cursing coming from the speakers… it even made Blossom blush.

"Well that's not very nice." She mumbled.

"What'd they say?" He snickered.

"You know I'd rather not repeat it."

"Ah, I see." He cleared his throat. "Mater tua est non pudet. Fuck off!"

She blinked.

"Now what did you just say?"

"His mother is ashamed of him and to go fuck off. Latin is pretty basic with insults." He shrugged. She gaped.

"You're terrible."

"I'm a Rowdyruff Boy Babe." He cupped her chin. "I'm everything naughty remember?" He wagged his brow and she blushed before looking down.

"...oh hush."

-o-o-o-
Ten months
-o-

The room shook from that wretched base outside.

Blossom was not a fan of these neighbors. Obnoxious, loud and with horrible taste in music, nonetheless they persisted in partying well into the night every goddamn weekend in the summer and good God he needed to move!

Yes. Yes, he did, she would bring it up at breakfast, he would probably agree with her and well what time was it anyway? Five-!? Ugh did these fools know not the meaning of sleep?!

She buzzed her lips and looked over her naked shoulder at the lean back and mess of red hair that was her boyfriend and the unfortunate neighbor of these fools! He feigned sleep when she scooted closer to him, but she saw the slight curl of his mouth. Oh, this naughty man! Sometimes he still acted like a little boy she swore!

"Brick…" She wheedled, "Brick go be a scary Rowdyruff Boy I want to sleeeeep." She admittedly whined but he wasn't listening anyway. An over exaggerated fake snore was his only reply. The partying continued and Blossom shook his shoulder again this time with a bit more uumph-

"Briiiiiick! They only laugh at me when i do it! You've got the scary face remember?" She poured. It was true, Powerpuff Girls wouldn't hurt a fly and those brats knew it.

And so…. no matter the amount of railing and yelling in the past all she'd gotten was laughter… and a fake beaded necklace thrown at her with the drunken declaration to shut up and show some skin!

"I don't want cheap beads thrown at me again." She muttered.

Brick finally groaned and stirred, those devilish red eyes fixed on her for a moment before finally the lazybones sat up, stretched out his arms and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"S'alright -I'm up. I'm up."

She leaned over and pressed a kiss on the back of his naked collarbone. "Thank youuu. Those frat boys are obnoxious." She muttered. "Teach them a lesson for me Brick. Please?"

The man raised a fiery eyebrow before flashing his delicious smirk. She was gently pushed back down, and a kiss was pressed on her brow.

"Anything for you Babe. Be right back."

She smiled and closed her eyes, listening to the whiplash of clothes being thrown on and the zip of a family burst of light and energy. She sighed and nuzzled her head more in the pillow.

It was astonishing really. She thought idly, one moment her worst enemy in all the world, the world's biggest "playboy" in youth even but… she frowned then.

Life could also throw hurdles one wasn't expecting.

She grasped the pillow closer. Mmm, yes what a man indeed.

The obnoxious music continued for a few more minutes but then- silence. The party had abruptly been cut off. Serves them right. Wretched fools.

Mmm. Perhaps this morning she'd try out that new recipe for breakfast. Strawberry pancakes. How delightful. He'd enjoy them and they had extra berries in the fridge anyway… yes… strawberry pancakes… yes.

The door reopened and she sat up at the footsteps.

"Thank you." She hummed and those strong arms wrapped around her waist again and she snuggled in deeper in his arms.

"My pleasure." His face buried in her collarbone and he shortly began covering her neck in kisses. She sighed, twisting around to face him.

"Don't you sleep?" She breathed, put a finger to his lips and pushed that over eager mouth back. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder."

Brick only chuckled again, "I sleep when I'm worn out." He said suggestively. "How's about helping a man out Babe?" And then his hands began trailing down her bare waist and-. She sighed again.

"You're utterly insatiable you know that." She bopped his nose. "I have work in the morning so not tonight." He pouted and she almost laughed. His grip tightened then, and he rolled them both over. "Brick!" She scolded and he still decided to be a stubborn doofus and went and buried his face in her-. She flushed scarlet. "Brick Jojo! Get out of there!" This time the shove was a bit harder, but he only laughed and rolled over.

"You are far too obsessed with my mammary glands." She muttered. He threw her a devious grin.

"I'm a man sweetheart." Brick snickered. "I like boob what can I say?"

The pillow hitting him in the face only made him laugh harder. But at least he got the point and they both settled back in the pillows.

Life… life was rather good. One could never take it for granted… or think it predictable.

Just look who she was next to right now.., ludicrous… but at the same time… just…

Right.

"I love you." She whispered

He tensed and sat up, but she kept her eyes closed.

"What did you say…?" He murmured.

"You heard me." She murmured sleepily before she sidle closer to him and into his open arms.

Her perfect… happily ever after.

-o-o-o-

Eleven Months
-o-

Time was flying it seemed. It was hard to believe it was already autumn again…

Time… really did fly when one was… happy.

She hadn't realized before how… truly miserable she'd been before… well… everything. She had lived yes but… it hadn't been… living.

It'd been existence. Not a true… well life.

She stuck her hands in her pockets and walked further down the path, the park was lovely this time of year and she'd received a rather "mysterious" text telling her to meet a certain dark stranger here in the park after work. Hmm…

She smoothed her hair back and her business suit as well though she wished he'd given her some prior warning. She would have worn a skirt today…

Keeping her grumbling to herself she continued to stroll down the way, returning waves and greetings from the awed civilians as they were of her presence. All of them really, but Blossom being the heroine who had "saved the city from fiery disaster" and dating the other hero in that regard she would admit there was a much more…pointed shift in the popularity polls recently.

As it should be.

Ah… and just around the corner sitting on a bench was her other due so to speak. Her boyfriend again was engrossed in reading like always, he was truly a voracious reader, she smiled at the sight. She'd joked before sure but… maybe him becoming a librarian wasn't too ludicrous after all.

… Not forgoing he would look utterly delightful going to work every day.

She cleared her throat and he looked up and flashed her a smile though… hm? It seemed… off somehow.

"Brick? What's wrong?" She hesitated. He looked… genuinely… discomfited. Despite herself her heart began to pound as an entire slew of horrifying possibilities threatened her perfect happily ever after.

. He's leaving. He's been offered an internship at the library of Congress.

He's switching majors and leaving for a new University a thousand miles away.

…. He's met someone else.

He was still horrifyingly silent.

"Brick… please say something." She laughed uneasily but then got yanked down on the bench beside him.

"It's been a while now hasn't it…" He murmured finally. She felt her chest do a backflip.

"...Almost a year."

"One year. A full… year."

"... Yes. Next month."

She got pulled into him and he rested his head on hers.

"Hard to believe it all started because of a game isn't it."

"A game you started."

"But that you finished."

"Of course. As if I was going to lose."

He gave her a strange smile again but then he nodded.

"Fuck yeah." He then stood up and offered her his hand. "Listen, uh so I have a weird question for you."

Badum.

"Yes?" She said quietly.

Badum. Badum.

"How's about a game of chess! Loser buys dinner."

"...Can your wallet keep affording this?"

He laughed but again it seemed… off.

"Well one of these days you'll be buying dinner."

She snorted. "Ha! Never. A Powerpuff never loses!"

"Never?"

"Never."

-o-o-o-

Eleven months, 30 days.

October 30

-o-

"Checkmate." She said simply, he swore.

"Damn. You really are good." He mumbled. She frowned,

"It's a good stress reliever."

"You're stressed?" He seemed to react to that. She frowned more.

"Work and such you know that it's always busier this time of year." She began collecting the pieces but he stopped her.

"One more game." He murmured.

She shook her head.

"Not tonight sweetheart I'm exhausted, the firm just is swamped - oh? This works yes." He'd lifted her into his arms and a wash of exhaustion began to hit her.

"You work too hard." He scolded quietly.

"No I don't. I'm still not promoted to managing director." She mumbled. He sighed and settled her on the bed.

"You never stop do you…" he murmured. "You're always trying to win something."

"It's hardly winning when it should have been mine in the first place." She whispered, their fingers laced and she pulled him down slightly.

Thankfully he got the message.

In their later afterglow she was still awake. Like she always was, he was more tired lately than he'd let on. His accelerated courses. Part time job ( because he'd insisted on paying his own expenses, a man had his pride after all) and.. keeping her.. well happy as he'd tease was a full time job in of itself.

Blossom traced her fingers along his abs, the lines of hard muscle, everything she'd...in a way won.

She'd been called a "spoil of war" but in reality… what was Brick then but the ultimate… unexpected grand prize?

She'd never expected to fall in love. But he'd known all along it was bound to happen. They were destined to happen, she'd fought against the inevitable and for what?

When accepting it has made her more happy than she'd ever…

Her cheeks flushed and she placed her lips on his collar bone before scooting into her usual spot. He stirred.

"Still not asleep?" He mumbled.

"Just thinking." She murmured. He shifted his body so she was in a further cocoon. With a smile she settled in.

"About?"

"Everything. My life now, my life…. Back then." He stiffened before sitting up and staring down at her.

"I hope it's good thoughts." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Oh it is… just… you won't judge me will you?"

"As long as you're not suddenly pining for the toxic pencil pusher versus your reformed demon vamp whatever."

She giggled. "I thought you hated being called that." He rolled his eyes.

"I have wearily become used to it due to your dear younger sister." He said dryly. "And you avoided my question, you're not thinking of that rancid meat pile are you?" He gagged slightly.

"Served you right you know. I'm glad he tasted vile." She said with a sniff. "

He rolled his eyes. "Hilarious." He muttered. "Again why are thinking about the pencil pusher?"

"I'm not." Blossom murmured, "not entirely I'm just thinking about… life… and the game."

Now he seemed to freeze. "Game?"

She sleepily nodded, he really needed to come back here, but he was ignoring her open arms and looked… all too serious. She frowned, damn it her and her big mouth.

"Well can you blame me. It's been a year."

"Not yet." He said quickly. "Hasn't been a full year yet."

Again… what was wrong with him? He'd been jumpy all day. "Brick… sweetheart what's wrong? Something at work? School?"

He didn't answer. She frowned and pulled him back into bed finally.

"Brick. You're full of it. What's wrong?"

He kept his grip on her right. "I just… I guess I'm remembering those days is all… my listless existence… before you… I mean."

She flushed. "Well… I suppose to be fair I was thinking the same."

He smirked, "cursing my listless existence?"

She blushed more, "no… um… well mine."

He blinked. She sighed.

"Despite how fucked it was and don't you dare deny it- those mirrors were unfair, and you know it." She wagged a finger in his face and he looked properly chastened. "They… did their job… everything did… though I'm still trying to figure out why of all things you chose a casino for mine." She shook her head and he winced.

"Blossom-." He began to get up. She frowned and pulled him back.

"No, no- don't interrupt, I'm exhausted and my guards down you know you won't get this any other time."

"Which I get but let me go get something-."

"No… I'm cold, you're warm." She tightened her grip on him. "Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"Babe, I promise you'll like it, just let me go for a second-."

She buzzed her lips at how stubborn he was being, "oh fine. You win."

Silence.

"...care to repeat that?" He said slowly.

Now… she was getting annoyed.

"I said you win. Fine. I give up, just go off and do what you want to do!" She hugged her arms. "But make it quick I really am cold-!" She blinked. "What's so funny?"

He was sputtering. Choking almost with laughter and… he wouldn't stop! What on Earth?

The room shook, his laughter was almost echoing around her… their bedroom wait… were those walls… were the walls collapsing!?

"Brick… Brick what-!?" She jumped up and grabbed him by the shoulders, he was laughing so hard tears were running down his eyes. She felt a chill.

"Brick? Brick sweetheart talk to me? Say something-!" She grit her teeth before slapping his shoulder. "SAY SOMETHING YOU IDIOT!"

he finally stopped laughing before staring up at her … an odd glimmer in his eyes… a familiar… red glimmer… she sucked in a breath.

"Time's up Babe."

The walls … no the world… fell down around them.

She gasped out loud, choking and sputtering, her hands grasping the coarse grains she could feel sticking to her skin. Her hair, underneath every recess in her body just…

Sand…? Where had sand-!?

Badum.

"No." She whispered.

"Easy Blossom. Easy, just take a deep breath."

Brick…?

"Holy shit- you actually pulled it off! Fuck man…"

Butch.

"Damn congrats Bro…"

Boomer?

What… what?

"I cannot believe you actually got those words to come out of my sister's mouth. Just how?"

Butter….BUTTERCUP!?"

"It's a miracle for sure."

….Bubbles?

"Heehehheeeeee! What an ending, I must say I'm impressed my son…a brilliant game indeed."

That last voice she also recognized… but no… no it couldn't be… it couldn't …

She looked up and saw it… saw all of them… laughing… her chest clenched… her eyes burned and it wasn't from sand…

The sand from the shattered…. Hourglass in the Hell study she'd started in.

I….I lost and…

Brick's expression was like stone. He wouldn't even look at her.

He…he lied to me.

The laughter was raucous and terrible… but thankfully….

Everything went black.

-o-o-o-

Ugh… my head

She groaned softly to herself. Her head was throbbing and her entire body seemed to be aching all at once.

She couldn't remember anything. Nothing at all. Her head was aching, she grit her teeth- she needed an aspirin-.

Wait… This… this wasn't her room. This wasn't her apartment this was…

It all crashed back to her in a single horrifying moment.

No… No no no no! She clutched her head and swallowed a scream. She saw the giant four poster bed, felt the luxurious fur and satin bedding and… oh God… she was right… she was right back where she had started!

She gulped and looked down at her, bracing herself for the inevitable sight of her in… God knows what Demon "wives" had to wear or… lack of for easy access and… hm?

Pants? Sweat pants…? A long sleeved shirt… no skin was showing practically this… this was what she would wear to bed normally… just… huh?

She was even in her pink fuzzy socks that he had constantly made fun of her for and…

She squeezed her eyes shut. Best… best not think of…

Her chest ached. Truly it felt like a weight was resting heavily on her chest and squeezing the life out of her, she just… it was painful… an all encompassing pain that…

She wished it was broken pride… but she knew...it was something else… that had been broken.

"Brick…" She squeezed her eyes shut once more. Maybe… she could just sleep forever at this point. Just...sleep the pain away…

"Blossom." The phantom voice lingered like a poisonous miasma, seep into her more then! Break her heart more, poison it! Let it die a long… lingering death.

She deserved it for being…, being such a fool!

Blossom buried her face further in the pillow, ignoring the spectral hand that lingered on her shoulder in a sick parody of the caress she had learned to… learned to…

No… don't even think it… just… sleep.

"Blossom."

She tensed.

"Go away." She whispered. "Just go away."

The caress lingered. B… Bastard!

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

She shot up and smacked the hand away, before she pushed him away with all her remaining strength- X'less or not she didn't care-!

The demon went flying back and… hm? That looked like a hard hit. He'd gone clean to the other side of the room-... she blinked and looked down at her hands.

What?

"Well doesn't that bring back old memories. Ow." He mumbled and stood back up groggily. Her eyes bugged out,

"Brick? Are you- I'm sorry I didn't mean to….except… yes! Yes I did!" She snapped. "You- You LIAR! You bastard! You-YOU!"

Her wrists were grabbed and stopped her in mid punch before shoving her back.

"It still shocks me to hear such a colorful vocabulary from "everything nice" so called." He shook his head. "Okay, I know- I know, I owe you a free hit so-." He pointed to his cheek-.

WHAM.

"Fuck! Ow! Fucking hell you've got hell of a hook!" He rubbed his face irritably before he grabbed her hand again. "I said one. Didn't think you'd actually follow through on it." He mumbled.

"You lying conniving cheat-!" She snarled.

"Hey, I never once looked at another woman that's not fair!"

"I meant the other type smartass!"

He grabbed her foot in midair and she ended up on her back and he was on top of her. Her knees went flying up and he grunted and fell back. She grit her teeth and lunged off, landed on top of him and went for his neck.

"You. fucking. LIAR!" She screeched. "LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!"

"Blossom-!"

"And I believed you! I BELIEVED YOU! You… you-!"

All at once her hands went limp and the strength… everything just drained out of her…, what… what even was the point…

"...Liar." She choked. "Fool… I was… such a fool." Her throat clogged and her head went down. "Just…, just put me to sleep. I'll be your blood bag, I'm your wife now, I know the deal but… I don't want to remember it. Let me go back… let me pretend it was real! Just… let me think… it was r-r-re-e-eal…"

What did she care about dignity? Nothing. She'd lost. Just… just no. Blossom knew when she… when she was done. And she was.

Brick was silent. At least he wasn't laughing at her anymore. She lowered her head and sidling off him and moving to sit back on the edge of the bed. She'd go with dignity. She… oh forget it. It didn't matter anymore.

She shifted her hair over her shoulder and pulled the oversized shirt down until her naked shoulder was completely visible.

"There. Make it quick and let me go back to sleep." She said with as much pride… as she could muster before she squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her neck. The mattress shifted next to her. It would only be a moment. Just one. One and then she could go back to her dreams… her foolish…

The shirt was set back to rights, and her hair brought back over it. She frowned.

"What? Aren't you going to-?" He cupped her face before turning it to his and… god damn it she was a fool. Her arms moved of their own accord around his neck, despite her brain screaming her foolish… stupid heart was doing the thinking clearly because she let the wretched cheat lower her back against the bed and… she was going to hate herself after this more than she already did but… their brows touched.

"I had to Babe." He murmured. "It wasn't the plan but… I had to."

She bit her lip. "I got the stones; I won the challenges… what did I do wrong… did I ever have a chance?" He was silent. "Brick… tell me… please was I ever playing a game at all… or was I playing a trap?"

He sighed and sat up, "You won three stones. Three souls… but... " He dug in his pocket. "You were playing for four."

She sucked in a breath, "Four…? But… what do you mean who was… who did I miss!?" She breathed. "I had a blue, I had a green I had a white-."

Suddenly… it became clear.

"... Professor… the diner... " A hand went to her mouth. "Oh… oh my God I was playing for his… the Casino… Gambling…" Her head went down. "It… It was obvious… so the soul.. The only soul I didn't... Win… was… was-."

He steepled his hands.

"Yeah Blossom… it was…"

"Mine." She finished quietly. "The final challenge… the final… hour…"

He sighed but nodded. "Yeah. That… was your final challenge."

"And I lost it." She said baldly.

"You forfeited actually."

She flinched.

"You tricked me."

He was silent but then he sighed again, it sounded… tired. Exhausted honestly.

"You didn't want to leave that reality did you Blossom?"

She bit back the instant denial. It had been too… perfect. Everything… she'd had her friends, the city's respect, her sisters, a great job and…

The Pink Puff bit her down on her lower lip.

She'd had… love. Or at least… the illusion of it.

"...No." Her voice was even smaller. The word hung in the air.

"Because that was the happiest year, you'd ever had...wasn't it Blossom?"

She remained silent but… finally her head went up… then down.

She couldn't even try to lie at that point. He'd so effectively… beaten her at this game it wasn't even… a contest… she hadn't had a chance.

And he'd known it too.

"The final challenge of the game… is always the hardest of them all." He sighed before he stood. "You shouldn't feel bad." He spoke to the wall. "No one… could have won that game Blossom… no one."

She was silent as it sunk in. She really… hadn't had a chance… it had all been for… nothing.

"But…I'll admit that I wasn't expecting to be part of your personal happy ending either…guess no plans really are flawless huh?"

Her cheeks flushed before something was pressed in her hands and he was… smiling… and not an evil… kind of smirk that she could have been expecting but instead it was a small… wry kind of genuine smile.

"You should open it." He murmured. "I meant to give it to you sooner but… I lost track of time too…" He got up then, and crossed to the other side of the room.

She frowned but then looked back at the small… box that had been pressed in her hand. She bit her lip but opened it gingerly, she knew what was in there obviously, she knew the conditions of the game, so…

Badum. Badum.

She recognized it. The worn golden band, it had been after all on Nana Utonium's finger for near fifty years… but the diamond… she frowned at the faint… rose hued orb encasing it.

She lifted it out with trembling fingers and a small paper was tucked in the bottom of the box. Still slightly shaking, she unfolded the small paper.

Blossom,

Congratulations you win. You've won the right to your own destiny and I present your own soul to control and see to as you see fit.

You fate is yours and so am I.

We'll get through what comes out of this together,

if you still want me that is.

That choice is yours too.

Love,

Brick

She stared at the paper for a long while. Her thoughts rushing through her at a whiplash, he was still quiet.

"But I… lost?" She whispered. "I don't understand-?"

"You didn't win outright… but you didn't lose either…, how about we… just call this a draw."

"But that would mean there's no winner."

"In this case is it wrong to say we've both in a way won?"

The instant denial, anger, he had after all tricked her into… except no… this… this had been written before this. The paper was… brittle. Old. This hadn't been shoved in here this morning this had been… months.

Badum. Badum.

Or the… equivalent of months… at least.

"One hour… equaled one year in the hourglass… one final challenge." He broke the silence. "Although… if the morons hadn't interfered you were supposed to have had two." He muttered. "They're going to regret this."

"…don't bother Brick. What's done… is done." She sighed out loud and hugged her knees. "…I made my own choice didn't I?"

He didn't answer her.

"When I went back for you… I mean…"

Badum. Badum. Badum.

"… I hadn't been expecting that no." He finally answered her.

"So, the initial plan of yours? Idyllic year one and hell year two?"

He flinched. She snorted.

"Clever." Blossom said bitterly and picked up the ring box once more.

"I wasn't going to through with it." He mumbled. "You caught me right before…" He looked over his shoulder. "You stopped me from… ending it then." She stiffened. "… I should have but…" Now his face reddened. "… I'll admit… I didn't want … that reality to end either."

Silence.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

"Because it was the greatest year of my life…" He ended.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

His gaze hit the floor; she hugged her knees tighter before…

"And mine...too" She finally whispered.

Silence. The only sound was… the sound of her own…pounding heart. Brick stared at her. She stared right back.

"Blossom…"

It was. It had been. Everything… everything she could have… possible wanted and…

Her cheeks warmed.

More.

"….You got me Brick. I concede… to you. You… win."

He didn't mock her. He didn't just burst out laughing. He just… seemed to exhale what sounded like a long… long held breath.

"… Finally." He murmured quietly. She nodded in return but then, sat up and held her hand out.

"Well… I'm waiting."

He blinked.

"What?"

Blossom held out her hand still… expectantly.

"Are you going to do this properly or am I going to have to do it?"

Badumdumdumdum.

"…Oh. Right. Right I uh… I knew that." He rubbed the back of his neck before giving her…an almost shy look. He had a cute smile. Almost boyishly innocent at times but she had to admit a thrill coursed through her veins when he slowly walked over, knelt and slipped that ring on her finger… without a hint of hesitation at all.

Like it was… just… right.

She stood when he offered her his hand and led her out the door, side by side.

Forever.

"My sisters?"

"They're alright They'll just be asleep for a bit longer than they were going to be. A suitable punishment for my brothers."

"For how long!?"

"However long it takes for them to beg."

-o-o-o-

Time was relative in the scheme of things.

Six months is how long it had taken to achieve his own forever.

She resembled an angel sleeping as she was. Her lips twitched in a small smile, her rosy blush increased at his touch, and her rose colored eyes opened finally. Groggily, her hand reached out and he lazily laced their hands, the matching golden band to his own glinted in the burgeoning light of the growing dawn.

"Is it morning already?" She groaned sleepily. Brick leaned over and pressed his lips to her brow.

"Barely, go back to sleep. Its early." She grabbed him and pulled him back down into bed, tangling the covers around him.

"No, don't leave." Another small protest when he turned up the covers over her thin frame save the bulge growing ever bigger as the days passed. These eventful… days filled with an everyday new, nothing was ever routine anymore.

Forever wasn't a curse…anymore.

She still protested with a sleepy whine but he dislodged himself anyway.

"Come back later." She ordered sleepily.

"Yes, my Queen."

Her lips curled and he pressed another kiss on her eyelid this time, she reached up and pulled him down for a proper good morning kiss before once again she was asleep within seconds.

Brick had clearly worn her out the previous night. Heh.

The guards all saluted instantly, bowing, groveling even in some cases as he strolled out of his Queen's chamber and down the hallway.

The Alpha was after all… King here.

Ah Brick… my boy there you are.

He paused and Mother was standing there with a smirk on its face. Brick acknowledged Him with a curt nod before they began walking down, side by side.

Equals.

Do you intend on keeping up with their punishment my boy? Your brothers of course?

Brick's lip curled slightly. "No. They served their purpose; they can have their mates soon enough."

Waiting for the child to be born?

"Now you're getting it."

The laugh was low.

My Boy, I couldn't have done it any better myself. An admirable job well done and now… what will you do? The plan after all… is still waiting.

Brick's thoughts returned to the beautiful woman asleep in the room and his grin only grew.

"I intend to see it through yes. But not yet. We have forever after all Mother."

That we do my son. That we do. Well done Brick. You've performed admirably. Completely ensnared her in our web, haven't you?"

The demon's smirk grew, and His son returned the slow curling smirk.

"I have what I want. I won the game. Did you ever have any doubt I would?"

And then… it laughed.

And Brick soon joined Him.

The game had been won.

They were together. Forever. The King had won his queen.

Checkmate.

Fin.

A/N: Heheheheheheheeeeeee Well, well, welll what an ending, what an ending- so who won this little game really I wonder? Hmmm.

I enjoyed this twisted tale a lot. Oh yes I did. I hope you all enjoyed it too! My fourth finished story! Gah, crazy!

See you next time my lovelies!

Cheers,

Carrie