The smell of citrus, cheap fragrances, and alcohol were heavily perfuming the upscale city apartment. Loud music and dimmed lights, accented by blue and black spotlights waving around erratically gave the living room an erotic feel; which was just what the doctor had ordered for this bachelor party.

"So how does it feel?" Butch inquired as he sipped his coke and rum. "To know in less than eighteen hours you're gonna be makin' that long walk down the aisle? Scared, man?"

Boomer contemplated that a moment as he sipped his own drink. "Surprisingly no, which I honestly thought I would."

"No surprise, really. You've been dating Bubs for over ten years. It's about time you two tied the knot."

"Even Butch was married before you!" Brick called from not far over, taking a quick breather before continuing his shots off one of the strippers.

Boomer nodded his head in agreement, waving his index finger. "Good point. How is my sister-in-law, by the way? Still hot as ever?"

A wide grin spread from one ear to the other on Butch's excited face. "Even hotter."

"Having the baby hasn't taken its toll on Blossom's figure yet?" Boomer sounded almost stunned at the thought.

"No, oddly enough. I thought it would. But, then again, Buttercup did pretty well after her kid. She's still a knockout."

"Good point." Boomer was silent, contemplating how Bubbles could be if . . . when they had a baby of their own. He sipped his drink and changed the subject. "How is the baby? I haven't seen my nephew in a good month."

"Beck is great. Happy, healthy, and finally sleeping through the night."

"Isn't four months a little late in the game to start sleeping through the night?"

Butch shrugged. "Blossom says Bianca didn't give her that much trouble before. But, that might just be the Butch Jr. in him. We didn't see anything wrong with it."

"She didn't give that much trouble," Brick said, finally jumping into the conversation. He smirked suggestively at one of the strippers before tapping her ass. "Take a break; you ladies have a drink."

The three girls giggled at his sensual tone before nodding and retreating to the kitchen. Brick made his way to his brothers, downing a shot of vodka as he walked. "Bianca was a great sleeper. Went the whole night by a month and a half."

"Blossom never told me that."

Brick couldn't help scowling at Butch. "I know my daughter. I may be divorced from her mother, but I didn't forget Bianca. I did raise her."

A tight knot formed in the pit of Butch's stomach. He was all too aware Blossom had been with Brick, long before he had been with her. Hell, they'd been sweet on each other since sixth grade. High school sweethearts after, and married at twenty, it was a wonder Butch had her at all. But, he did have her. After her divorce five years later, she'd come to him, of all people for comfort. It didn't take long for them to fall for each other, and two years later they were married. Though she no longer was betrothed to Brick, Butch couldn't help feel this pang of jealousy, and also worry. Worry that Brick would one day come for her, take her back, or worse . . . she'd go back to him. Hell, they had a six year old together. Had Brick not been stupid and let himself get caught up with his boss, Blossom would not have divorced him to begin with. The very idea of never having been with Blossom, never having had their son Beck, never having this life with her . . . it terrified Butch.

"Wait a sec," Boomer said, breaking through Butch's hazy thought process. "Aren't you and Bloss about to hit three years?"

Butch quickly did the calculations in his head and a small smile form on his perfect lips. "Yeah, three year anniversary in two weeks."

Brick nodded in understanding, eye brows rising in disbelief a tad before he took another shot and walked back to the now returned stripper. Boomer was just as stunned. "Dayum, that's a long time . . . especially for you. I never would have seen this back in high school. What's become of Townsville High's biggest player? . . . Thirty, married, and a kid of his own. Not only that, but he's married to Townsville High's most coveted prize . . . Powerpuff Leader, Blossom Utonium." Boomer's failed attempt at sounding like some sort of broadcaster only brought a smirk to Butch's face, a laugh from him.

"I know, I know. But I love this, married life is gonna be a hell of a lotta fun, Boom. Let me tell ya. Especially the make-up sex . . . damn, does that woman know how to tick me off sometimes. But it's sometimes nice to fight, when she does make up sex like she does." Butch zoned off, his mind thinking through their many intense fights in the past few years, and their even more intense make up sessions.

Boomer couldn't help laughing, knowing all too well her sister was the same way. "Sounds like exciting times ahead." He sipped the last of him rum and coke before setting it on the table close by. "I should get to the hotel, I'm getting married tomorrow and . . ." he stopped short, eyes going huge, and looking as if he would be sick. "Shit . . . I'm getting married tomorrow."

Butch was in a roar of laughter. "Ha! It finally hit you, did it?" He slapped his woozy brother's shoulder, finding it hysterical that his normally milky white skin was almost as his beachy blonde hair. "And don't even think about it, man. You're crashing at our house tonight. Blossom's already decided it. She's made up the guest room so you can bunk there."

A faint flush returned to his cheeks. "Thanks, man. Let me grab my bag from the back room, and we'll head out?"

Butch watched Boomer disappear through the kitchen and into the back hall before turning to see his other brother tonguing Berserk on the couch as she straddled him, and the tight knot went from that to a full on sharp pain. He couldn't help but wonder if Brick had chosen her to shove his tongue down the throat of that stripper because she was nearly a carbon copy of his ex-wife. "We're gonna head out," Butch sad, tearing the two apart from each other.

"It's only ten," Brick said, staring down at his Rolex. "You sure you guys wanna go now?"

"Yeah, we're good. Seems like you have some more pressing things to do anyway. Thanks for letting us have the party here."

He watched Brick mutter something into her ear, and she scowled before hopping off and grabbing her coat. "Pig," she muttered before leading Brat and Brute out the door.

"What did you say to them?"

"I compared them to the Powerpuff girls. Works like a charm," he said, sounding so full of himself as he downed another shot. "I have to get to bed too I guess. Best man and all. Can't be wasted or smelling like that skank at the wedding."

Butch couldn't help feeling a bit surprised . . . and relieved. Though it had been Berserk, he couldn't help feeling insecure about the whole scenario. He'd definitely need to call different strippers when the next wedding rolled around . . . if it did. "Right, well . . . thanks again. We'll swing by to pick you up around eight. Unless you're riding in your own car."

"Nah, pick me up. I wanna see my girl before the chaos starts." Brick could see the uneasy look Butch gave him, before he clarified, "Bianca."

"Right," Butch muttered, quickly sighing to himself with relief as Boomer entered with a small suitcase and tuxedo bag in his hand. "Great, let's get out of here."

"Right-eo," he said, stepping up to his "oldest brother." "Thanks for the great bachelor party, bro. I owe you big time for this."

They fist bumped before hugging in that manly way men do. "You know it, kid."

Brick guided them out of his apartment silently, both him and Butch relieved to not have to keep up pretenses any longer.

Butch strolled into the house, greeted by the warm lips of Blossom's on his, and the sweet cooing of his son. "Hey there, little man," he said, lifting the giggling Beck over his head a bit before resting him against his chest. "How was your party?"

"Good," Blossom said, leading the two Ruffs into the living room. "Bubbles didn't hire any strippers, Boomer."

Despite the hypocrisy, Boomer couldn't help feeling utterly relieved. "Good, thank god."

"But we did," Butch added, keeping his voice sing-songy and cheerful as he played with his son. "Did his fever go away?"

"Yeah, it did." Blossom's narrow eyed stare turned to Butch as she crossed her arms, looking eerily like Brick had as a teenager. "You had strippers?"

"Just one or two," he admitted with a charismatic smile. "I didn't do anything. Promise. Just a few drinks. Brick kept the girls to himself really."

"No surprise," Blossom muttered. She took the yawning Beck into her arms and waved the boys off. "You guys go get cleaned up. You smell like a tequila bar. I'm going to try putting him back down."

"Okay," Butch muttered, going to kiss Beck's soft, fuzzy head of dark hair. "Goodnight, baby." He stared up at his wife, smirking as his lips went to her ear. "We'll discuss the party after, okay?"

Blossom nodded softly before disappearing up the grand staircase and out of sight. "Beautiful kid," Boomer said, staring at the space Blossom had traveled. "Blossom looks great too."

"Yeah, yeah. Keep your eyes off the wife. You got your own."

"Ah, not yet," Boomer teased, grabbing his stuff from the couch. "Little over seventeen more hours!"

The two brothers exchanged sarcastic banter all the way to Boomer's guest room before they parted ways. Butch stopped at the door of Beck's nursery, watching Blossom slowly put Beck back into his crib. "He asleep?" Butch whispered, stepping up beside her.

"Finally, yes. Let's pray he stays that way. He's woken up twice since I put the kids down. Bianca's asleep in her room with Haley. Bianca asked if she could stay. I told her it was fine."

"Sounds good, gives her someone to play with so we can play . . ." He pulled her away from the crib and to their room next door before his hands found their way across the back of her blouse, slipping underneath.

"Nice try, buster." She smacked his hands away and pushed him to the bathroom. "You smell like you downed a whole bottle of alcohol. I am not kissing that."

"Fine, then come join me," he teased, slipping out of his jade green polo, though his offer was unnecessary. Her freshly damp hair made him realize he came just a little too late.

"I'll pass this time, but next time, babe. I'll check on the girls." He wacked her playfully with his shirt as she passed, and it brought a soft giggle from her that he took in like sweet mead. "Yeah . . . Boomer's definitely going to love married life."

Blossom slipped into her daughter's room, sighing with relief that the girls had easily gone to sleep. Bianca was in her bed, red hair in neat little pigtails, and red bows that matched the red hearts on per pale pink pajama dress. Haley lay beside her, her short raven colored hair in a sleek little ponytail as she curled up into her cousin. It was a rather adorable scene that Blossom couldn't help wanting to "awh" at.

Silently, she floated up to the bed, careful to not bump into anything, and pulled the covers up to their shoulders as she tucked them in before disappearing out of the room. Quickly, she snuck one last peak at Beck as she disappeared into her room, Butch now sitting at the edge of their bed in nothing but a pair of navy sweats, towel drying his short black hair. "Hey baby," he greeted her.

She said nothing to his remark, merely walking to him, arms crossed as she said, "So . . . strippers huh?"

He let loose an embarrassed sounding chuckle. "It's not like we did anything. It was a bachelor party, what did you expect?" His arms wrapped around her waist as she stood before him. Carefully, Butch pulled her as close as she could come without knocking them back. "It was just a party, and nothing happened, promise. Like you didn't consider having someone there for Bubbles."

"Buttercup did, actually. But Bubbles was deadest against it. Felt like it was betraying Boomer."

"Damn, you girls really are faithful. You're making me feel guilty here!"

Her hands cupped his face, forehead to forehead now. "You should be."

"I'm sorry," he murmured, practically willing her lips to his. And without effort, they made contact, lips locking together as if they'd never part.

He couldn't think about anything except the sweet taste of her cherry Chap Stick, and mint tooth paste. The warmth that radiated off her was like his own personal sun. And her lips were smooth and like magnets for him. He couldn't pull away, despite his desperate need for air.

To his dismay, Blossom forced their part, pulling back to look at him. "Did you hire those Powerpunks again? You know I hate those girls. They're evil."

"Hey, I dated Brute for almost six months."

"All the more reason to not have her as your stripper!"

Butch pulled her lips to his once more, silencing her. "You worry too much, Blossom." Like nothing, he flipped her onto the bed, propping himself on top of her slender figure. "You need to relax, baby."

Without a fight, his lips traveled from her lips, across her jaw, down her neck, and stopped at the lining of her blouse. His fingers slipped through the fabric, and her buttons practically undid themselves as his lips kissed her collarbone. He couldn't get over how stunning his wife was, and he wanted her more than he had in his entire life. Like any married couple, they lost themselves in the heat of the romance and showed their love for each other in the best way they knew how. . . .