"Okay, so it's settled," Blossom said as they each came out of their memories. "We'll make a card for Ms. Bellum. Now," she looked at each of them, "what do we want it to say?"

"Ooh, ooh!" Bubbles squealed. "How about 'You're the bestest mommy ever!' ?"

"No way!" Buttercup yelled. "We don't want to seem like we're five years old!"

"Buttercup!" the pink puff scolded.

"Do you agree with her?"

"Well no, but I think you could have said it a little nicer." She thought for a minute before snapping her...fingers. "How about 'The perfect family has the square root of sixteen parts. A mom and three daughters. We square root you as a mother.'"

"That's even worse!" Buttercup groaned from her place on the bed. "Math puns and baby sentiments, you two are hopeless!"

"Well how about you, miss Smart Mouth? You got any bright ideas?" Blossom challenged, hands on hips.

"Yeah, actually, I do. How about we all make our own cards. At least that way I don't have to deal with a nerd and a cry baby."

"That might actually work," the redhead said thoughtfully.

Buttercup smirked triumphantly. Each girl then gathered the necessary items for their separate cards. The house settled into a calm silence for the rest of the afternoon as the three worked on what they each believed to be the best Mother's Day card in existence. The Professor only worried a little at the silence but also thought it a welcome change from the usual screaming matches. By bedtime, each card was complete and propped on the shared vanity, eagerly awaiting the next morning.

The first thing Blossom did when she woke up the next day was place a call to Ms. Bellum. It was one of the rare days she didn't have to go into work and the young girl wanted to make sure she didn't have any plans. She didn't, and it was all the younger redhead could do to keep from squealing in excitement. Instead she calmly asked if it would be all right if they came over for a little while. The smile in the older woman's voice was obvious as she granted permission.

Blossom turned to face her sisters with a smile on her face as she hung up.

"She said yes?" Bubbles asked.

"Yep," she reported happily.

"There's just one problem," Buttercup said with a frown.

"What?" Blossom asked apprehensively.

"We don't have anything to give her besides the cards."

"Why didn't you bring this up earlier?" Blossom yelled as she frantically tried to get dressed and break open their piggy bank at the same time.

"I thought you knew," the brunette said with a shrug.

"What are we gonna do? All the stores have probably already sold all the good stuff," Bubbles voiced while she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"I guess we'll just have to hope for the best. Come on girls, she's expecting us at one. That gives us," Blossom glanced at the clock, "three hours to scour every store in Townsville for the perfect gift."

Nodding, the two remaining puffs dressed and together they shot out of the house, calling out that they would be back later. The Professor scratched the top of his head but shrugged it off, thinking the Mayor had called and needed them to defeat another monster.

Two and half hours, and thirty stores later, found the girls staring up at the last store in Townsville, which also happened to be the most expensive. They gulped and pushed open the door. Almost immediately they were swarmed by sales clerks trying to assist them. They kindly declined the attention, preferring to look around on their own. Time was ticking away, and just when they thought they would have nothing to give her, they spotted it.

There in the main display case, resting on a velvet pillow, was a ten carat ruby necklace surrounded by smaller diamonds. The stone was cut into a tear-drop shape, and glittered brightly in the light from the case. They all swooped over to it, mesmerized by it. The owner, who had been watching them the entire time, came over to assist them.

"Does something interest you?" he asked calmly, though he knew quite well they were interested.

"This necklace, how much is it?" Blossom asked, pointing to he impressive jewel.

"Let's see, that's our ten carat blood ruby surrounded by one carat diamonds. It's one of the more expensive and delicate pieces. It was imported from Italy a few years ago. I'd say the lowest I could let it go for would be three-thousand five-hundred dollars."

Blossom and Bubbles' jaws hit the floor upon hearing the price, but Buttercup simply smirked.

"W-we can't afford that," Blossom stammered as she looked at the man.

"Then I'm afraid I can't sell it to you," he replied, a bit of bite to his tone.

This made the green puff sneer as she floated up to him and grabbed the lapels of his suit.

"Listen buddy, we save the city on a daily basis. If memory serves I recall getting back a certain diamond set from a certain female villain a few months back. And I remember a certain someone who promised a favor."

The man paled as he recalled his promise. Her never intended for it to be for something quite so valuable. Actually, he never thought he'd have to make good at all.

"O-of course," he stammered as Buttercup released him. "In light of that event I'll allow you to have it for a mere three hundred dollars."

"That's still too expensive," Blossom said with a defeated sigh. "Come on girls," she said sadly, glancing at her watch. "It's almost one. Ms. Bellum will be expecting us."

"Hold on, Blossom," the brunette girl said as she removed something from her pocket. "Here," she said, handing over the card to the stunned jeweler, "that should take care of it."

"Is that the Professor's credit card?" Bubbles asked.

"Sure is," Buttercup said with a grin.

"Buttercup, you know we're only supposed to use that in emergencies!" Blossom hissed.

"Relax, will 'ya? I think this qualifies as an emergency."

Before the leader could say another word the store owner had handed Buttercup a medium sized box with a small black bow. Not bothering to argue now that the necklace had been paid for, the pink puff simply sighed and flew from the store, her sisters following. They stopped by their house quickly to gather their cards and then they were off, nervous yet excited. Landing on the older woman's porch, they took a moment to admire the view before ringing the bell. They heard footsteps on the other side, and held their breath as the door opened.

Ms. Bellum answered wearing a pair of acid wash jeans and a red tank top. She was also barefoot, they noticed with some amusement. She had taken to dressing extremely casually on her days off, and by this point the girls had seen her in almost everything. Tanks tops, bikinis, shorts, fancy dresses, anything. She smiled and beckoned them in, immediately heading into the living room.

The girls stopped just inside the door, kicking off their shoes before following her. They had learned years before that her house was pretty much their second home, and were encouraged to make themselves comfortable whenever they visited. They found the older woman draped across the couch, calmly waiting on them, tv on mute in the background. They grinned at each other, finding her ability to act like a teenager amusing. They made themselves comfortable in the chairs surrounding the coffee table, getting comfortable before facing her.

"So girls, how's your day been?" Ms. Bellum asked, half focusing on whatever was on tv.

"Hectic and frustrating," Blossom said.

The older redhead turned to face her.

"Why?"

The three looked at each other before floating over and surrounding her.

"Happy Mother's Day!" they chorused, hugging her.

Stunned, she wrapped her arms around them, surprised that they had thought of her. They released her, backing up a bit and brandishing their cards. She took them almost numbly, shock coating all of her senses. Each card was as different from the others as night and day, and expressed each girl's personality clearly. She began with Blossom's, the pink and red drawing her attention.

She couldn't help but grin at the bad pun, opening it only to have the smile slip off her face. 'Dear Mama,' it began, and she felt her heart swell at the title, 'you've always been there for me. Through the ups and downs, the laughter and the sadness, and even the embarrassing moments. You've molded me into the young woman I am, and I can't imagine life without you. You're a part of our family, even though we aren't linked by blood.

On this day, your day, I thank you, and I salute you. I hope to be half the woman you are as an adult. I love you, Mama. Happy Mother's Day. Blossom.' She was in tears by the time she finished reading. Bubbles and Buttercup looked at each other in confusion. They had no idea what the inside of Blossom's card contained, just as they had no idea what was inside each other's card. Buttercup smacked her in the shoulder.

"What did you do?" she hissed.

"Nothing," the girl responded before being enveloped in the older woman's arms.

She felt kisses pressed to her hair and her face and blushed, having not expected such an emotional reaction.

"Thank you, Blossom," Ms. Bellum said, tears still tracking down her face. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

"You're welcome," Blossom said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Floating back up to join her sisters, they watched as the woman proceeded to select Bubbles' card next. 'You're the bestest mommy ever!' the outside read, and Ms. Bellum laughed at the girl's innocence. 'Roses are red, violets are blue. You're amazing and I love you!' the inside said. Her eyes went lower, reading the short message underneath the poem.

'To the woman who protects me from monsters, who soothes nightmares, and who tells me to emerge from my sisters' shadow. Who lets me shine and be myself, and who encourages me to be the best I can be, I hope you have the absolute best day possible. Happy Mother's Day, Mommy. I love you. Bubbles.'

Her hand covered her mouth, fresh tears beginning to flow. She reached toward the blue puff, and the small blonde flew into her arms.

"Thank you, my sweet, sweet girl," she whispered into Bubbles' ear.

"You're welcome," she replied, kissing her cheek as Blossom had.

They all watched as she finally selected Buttercup's card, the outside plain except for the generic "Happy Mother's Day" message. Blossom and Bubbles looked at her in confusion, and she saw a bit of disappointment in their eyes. She glared at them before redirecting her attention to the woman who was now reading the message within. Ms. Bellum read the words inside, the tears flowing faster and faster at the message.

'Ms. Bellum,' it began, 'where to begin? You've been there for me my whole life. You've seen me grow up and answered all my questions. You've guided me and supported me, no matter if you agreed with my choices or not. You've earned my respect, which I do not give freely, though I'm sure you've noticed that.

If anyone has earned the right to be called my mother, you have. I know I don't often express my affection, but I want you to know it's there, burning just as strongly as my love for my sisters and the Professor. It just took me longer to admit it.

So now I thank you. Thank you for seeing through the tomboy façade to the real me. The little girl yearning for affection but not knowing how to trust or ask for it. Thank you for putting up with me, and not being discouraged every time I took out my anger on you. And mostly, thank you for loving me.

So I say to you, my friend, my supporter, my mother, I love you. Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. I love you, Mom. Buttercup.'

Ms. Bellum was openly sobbing. Buttercup could sense her sisters glaring at her, but all she did was float down and embrace the woman. She felt arms wrap around her shoulders in return.

"I love you, Mom," she said, causing the older redhead to sob harder.

"I know," she replied, breath hitching between sobs. She took a calming breath, lifting her head and looking at each one in turn. "Thank you, girls. It means the world to me that you think of me this way. I love you, each and every one of you."

She pulled them back in for another hug, a few more tears escaping.

"We got you something else," Blossom said, wriggling free.

"Oh, you shouldn't have. The cards were enough," Ms. Bellum tried to protest.

"But we wanted to," Buttercup said.

They presented her with the box, anxiously holding their breath as she pulled the ribbon off. She gasped as she opened it, revealing the shimmering pendant.

"It's beautiful," she said softly, half wishing she was wearing an outfit that would go with it.

"So you like it, then?" Blossom asked.

"Like it? I love it."

The three puffs looked at each other and smiled, relieved that she liked their present. She stood, crossing to the mantle and displaying each of their cards proudly. She turned and smiled at them, traces of tears still evident on her face.

"There now. Everyone will be able to see how wonderful this day has been," she said.

She settled back onto the couch, the girls sitting on her lap instead of in their own chairs. She reached over and flipped the volume back up on the tv, and the girls realized it was some movie on Lifetime. They watched for a bit, but soon grew bored with the film. They had learned years ago that the older woman enjoyed Lifetime movies, for whatever reason, so they kept quiet and simply allowed their minds to drift off. Before long, all three were asleep, the adrenaline fueled rush of the morning wearing off.

Ms. Bellum glanced down when she felt the three little bodies grow heavy. It somewhat surprised her that they had fallen asleep. They were fifteen years old, after all. But she didn't mind, it reminded her of when they were little and would fall asleep watching tv or after playing a game. So she didn't move them, merely slid down a little further and turned down the volume on the tv so that she could fall asleep as well.

Looking in, one would see a mother and her children napping on a warm Sunday afternoon. To someone none the wiser they looked like a perfect little family, minus a father. The girls had gotten their wish, to have a normal Mother's Day. And little did they know, it was to become a tradition in the years to come to celebrate with the older woman. And if anyone in Townsville thought it odd to hear cries of "Hi, Mama!" or "Let go of our mother!" or "Mommy/Mom/ Mama, she...!" depending on which girl was speaking, they never mentioned it.

Instead, they smiled and acknowledged the relationship for what it was: love between a mother and her children.