Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Author's Note: Time to regroup, there's something big on the horizon. Warning this chapter contains adult material right from the get go. If you don't want to see it, skip to the scene break when Valentino leaves.

Chapter 21

XxXxX

"James...James...I'm sorry, I just...I just can't stop crying...James it's so good to see you again..." Ms. Keane refused to detach her grip on the scientist, even when as the chilly morning air buffeted them. For his part, the Professor was in no hurry to break their embrace either, but as they stood in the doorway, jet lag began to rear its ugly head. He stifled a yawn and drew Ms. Keane inside, just enough to pull his luggage in and close the door. Valentino sat beside them, watching intently.

"Shh...Cassie it's alright...I missed you too," Professor Utonium looked down at his luggage and noticed Valentino. He chuckled and swallowed a nervous lump, trying to gently shoo the cat away. Valentino laid down, watching with almost mischievous amusement. Professor Utonium sighed and shook his head, patting Ms. Keane's back.

"Cassandra...can we get my luggage upstairs?" Ms. Keane sniffled and helped him with his bags, tiptoeing as silently as she could manage.

"Please don't wake them...they had a very frantic day," Ms. Keane whispered. The Professor chuckled, quickly lowering his voice as they reached the second floor.

"I noticed...they're alright aren't they?" Ms. Keane froze in the doorway to the Professor's bedroom, trembling. She shook her head, going in and setting down his bags. The Professor set his suitcase down and watched her walk to the door, arms crossed and shoulders shaking.

"Cassie? What's wrong?" He asked, walking to her and resting a hand on her shoulder. The kindergarten teacher shook her head and sighed.

"James...I did my best...I swear I did..." Professor Utonium smiled and turned her around to face him, gently holding her shoulders.

"I know Cassandra...what's wrong? I know you've always done right by me and by my girls," Ms. Keane sniffled and shook her head. Valentino pranced up the stairs and sat outside the half shut door, staring at it curiously. He sat back on his haunches, his tail twitching back and forth.

"James, I'm sorry but...Blossom...she ran away from home. James I'm so sorry!" The Professor gasped, stiffly staring at his childhood friend. Blossom had left home again? Why? Where had she gone? How long had she been gone? He closed his eyes and pulled her close, despite her protests, and held her tightly.

"It's alright...she's a smart girl...she'll...she'll be fine, please don't cry," He was doing his best to hold back his own panic, struggling to keep his mind from turning in all the worst directions. Blossom was a smart girl. She was a responsible girl. She was a strong girl. She would be fine...

"I should have been more...more understanding! I should have talked to her more!" The Professor shuddered and swallowed the lump in his throat. His eyes were watering, his chest was heaving. The panic attack was growing with every second. Where was his daughter? Was she safe? Did she need him?

Was it his fault?

"James...you've been...you had a long flight I'll...I'll tell you in the morning," She started to pull away, but he quickly caught her arms. Ms. Keane looked up at Professor Utonium, her cheeks flushed, stained by tears. He looked the same, though he was trying to hide it. She licked her lips, and looked away.

"Wh...what is it?" She asked, gasping as he stiffly embraced her.

"Stay...stay with me," He whispered. He felt her face grow hot against his chest. He was practically steaming himself. Ms. Keane looked up at him. On the other end of the bedroom door, Valentino jumped and glared in annoyance as the door clicked shut. With a sigh, he sauntered off, to go climb in bed with Bubbles and Buttercup.

"James are you sure," Ms. Keane moaned, her mouth smothered beneath his. Was it weeks of building tension? Was it months? Maybe, somewhere deep inside, it was years of suppressed tension. Tension from Jr. high, from high school, even from the class reunions. Wherever it came from, it was so powerful, she quickly forgot her worries. Cassandra Keane wrapped her arms around James Utonium's neck, deepening the already frantic kiss.

Lips smacked, tongues touched, hands roamed, the two stumbled back blindly, the taller feeling around for his bed, grunting in satisfaction when he found it, then groaning in annoyance when he tripped over his own bags and pulled them both down on the bed.

"Oof!" the Professor cried, sitting up.

"What's wrong?" Ms. Keane gasped out, flushed. The Professor threw the bag across the room and chuckled nervously.

"Sorry, forgot I put that there so um..." He trailed off when she pressed against him again, pushing him down onto the bed. She worked dumbly trying to unbutton his shirt, grunting from exertion, while trying to keep her lips as close to his as possible. The Professor unbuttoned his pants, shimmying and trying to discard them as subtly as possible. Ms. Keane giggled as he bounced against the bed, chuckling nervously.

She finally undid the last button and fell against him once more, hands now roaming his chest. She gasped, pausing in her exploration of his body, fingers tracing deep scars. He shivered beneath her finger tips, sucking in air and clenching his teeth.

"James...what...what happened to you?" She whispered. He shook his head and sat up. The scientist slid his hands up her thighs, beneath her night gown and gently caressed her sides, planting soft, hot kisses on her neck. Ms. Keane moaned and fell against him, still curious.

"Jimmy...answer me...what happened?" He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. He lightly ran his fingers down her back, trailing across her backside.

"It's nothing...just...you know how fathers can be reckless when their daughters are in danger," Ms. Keane found his eyes in the darkness and stared at him, an awed smile on her lips.

"James you are amazing..." She made a note to ask him for the full story later. For now, she giggled and blushed, watching the scientist's eyes bulge when she slid out of her nightgown. He cleared his throat and chuckled bashfully.

"I...I have to warn you...it's...been a while," Now it was her turn to shift nervously, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from him.

"...Yes...yes it's been...a w-while for me as well...um...so we'll just," The Professor nodded, rubbing the back of his head.

"This will be a um...a refresher course! Yes uh..." he laughed sheepishly and turned back to her. She was beautiful, barely visible, but he could still see her, outlined by the moonlight coming in through the window. Her skin was pale, soft, smooth...the Professor began to find his courage, taking in all of his friend...his high school crush...his first girlfriend...

"Cassandra...I'm sorry how things worked out before," He whispered, trailing kisses from her lips, down her cheek, across her shoulders. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him closer and closer. For a moment, he hesitated, still unsure of himself. As his lips drew closer to her chest, he slowed down, until he stopped altogether. She panted and looked down at him.

"What's wrong? James, what's wrong?" She whispered, turning his face up to hers. He swallowed and cleared his throat.

"I um...I'm not exactly...well..." She smiled and blushed. He was so cute...so honest and gentle. She dipped down and kissed him heavily, slipping her tongue against his and playfully biting his lip as she pulled away.

"Neither am I...let's just...play it by ear?" She whispered. The Professor nodded and took the hint as she pulled him to her breast. He planted soft, slow kisses along her breast, lightly kissing her stiff nipples. Ms. Keane gasped and pulled him closer, nodded and moaning.

"Yes...oh James...that's wonderful..." She arched her back and held him closer as he sucked on her nipple, a hand lightly brushing across her other breast. She ran her fingers through his hair, rubbing his scalp and nodded, gritting her teeth with every sensual surge rushing through her body. She sighed and quickly sucked in a new breath when he switched sides, his teeth just barely brushing against her. Ms. Keane pulled his head up, and kissed him fiercely. Now, the Professor matched her ferocity, pulling her down, pressing her into his pillows as their mouths met again and again, a reckless abandon they hadn't felt in so many years washing over them.

"Cassie...do you...do you have a um...would you rather be...on top or..." He whispered, running his hand down her thigh. Ms. Keane bit her lip and shook her head, giggling and pulling him into another kiss.

"I've...I've only ever been...on bottom...it's fine..." She replied, her voice cracking. She smiled and sat up on her elbows, walking her fingers up his chest to his cheek. She pulled him closer and whispered in a husky voice.

"I'm ready when you are...Professor," He shuddered and tore off his boxers, once again pinning her to the bed in passionate embrace. She moaned and continued to trace his new scars, pondering which ones were new and which were old. She could only imagine him, at his strongest...all of those scars bleeding and stinging. Ms. Keane bit her lip and pulled him into a very soft, very slow kiss, halting the frenzied pace the two had been coming to.

"What is it?" He whispered, staring into her big blue eyes. She stared back into his dark eyes and slowly shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. He hadn't changed at all since high school-she realized with a watery giggle-he was not the strongest man alive, but when something mattered to him...when he truly loved someone, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

"You're amazing James..." She whispered. He shook his head, laughing softly.

"Cassie..." She shushed him and gave him another kiss that seemed to last forever, that seemed to slow time itself.

"I want you James..." He nodded, and held her hips, trying to guide his way to her. Ms. Keane giggled and shook her head, holding her legs back and smiling at him.

"Higher James...that's not the um...one you're looking for..." The Professor blushed and adjusted his aim, refusing to look at her. Ms. Keane giggled and gently guided him in the right direction. She bit her lip and nodded. The Professor panted and slid a bit deeper, holding her hips tighter. It had been a very, very long time. Not since Ima...it all began to come back to him. He thrust deeper and deeper, encouraged by her moans and gasps.

"Yes...mm...d-deeper...yes...God, James...oh..." The room was musky and hot, a perfect counterpoint to the cold air outside. The gentle rhythm began to grow faster and heavier, joined by the rising moans of the two participants. Ms. Keane gripped the sheets and shut her eyes, gasping in air with stifled gasps. The Professor stared at her, watching her firm chest rise and fall, watching in awe as the sweat trickled down her body. Every gyration, every squeal, every tremble, he drew it all in with a growing smile. He had missed her...

"James...I...I think...I...." She shook her head and bit the pillow as he pumped faster and faster, grinding harder and harder against her. The Professor grit his teeth, and gave a strangled gasp for air. The pressure was rising, every thrust bringing him closer and closer. Ms. Keane began to pump in time with him and both moaned louder. The bed squeaked slightly, but waking the girls was the furthest thing from their minds. The Professor groaned, and ground his teeth, as the feeling overtook him.

Lying on the mountain with freezing wind buffeting his body, he had found an amazing power. The power that had begun to flow through him, the power that gave him the strength to fight back the icy grip of death...it was nothing compared to the feeling now rushing through him. Every inch of his body felt like it was on fire, every ounce of his energy poured into the woman lying beneath him. As she moaned louder and louder and clenched his sheets tighter, he came harder.

He snapped from his thoughts, regained himself as she groaned and dug her fingers into the sheets. She grabbed him and pulled him against her, kissing him with an animalistic ferocity. Animalistic, or just lonely? Either way, the way Cassandra Keane was now grinding against him, now kissing him, it was all James Utonium needed to fill in the one piece of his soul that had been barren and empty for so long. It wasn't until she shivered and spoke, just above a whisper, that he realized he was crying.

"James...I love you..." He looked into her eyes and, for just one moment, everything was right.

"I love you too, Cassandra..."

XxXxX

The city of Townsville was a sea of flames; maniacal laughter rang out in every direction. Buttercup choked down a gasp of air, falling to her knees and coughing up ash. She rubbed her watering eyes and looked around. Bubbles lay beside her, unmoving. Buttercup clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. Heavy metal footsteps inched closer, causing the entire city to tremble. Buttercup lifted her head and stared into the pitch black depths of the giant robot's cockpit. Her heart skipped a beat when the robot melted into a sheet of darkness. Buttercup's mouth fell open; deep within the darkness, she could see a pink streak approaching. She thrust out her hand.

"Blossom!" Buttercup gasped, her eyes snapping open. She uselessly held her hand out to the ceiling of her bedroom. She felt something furry shift next to her, and a loud purr joined her sister's soft breathing as the only sounds in the room. Buttercup looked around and spotted Valentino curled up at Bubbles' feet. He stared up at her, his eyes glistening in the dark.

"Hey Val...sorry about that," Buttercup muttered as she sat up, scratching her mussed up hair. Valentino trotted up to her and hopped into her lap, nuzzling her affectionately. Any other day, she'd have appreciated the gesture, but at the moment she felt to confused to really enjoy it. Nonetheless, she smiled as his furry head rubbed against her cheek. Buttercup turned to look at Bubbles; the blonde puff was on her stomach, drooling and very much asleep. Buttercup rolled her eyes and turned to her other side, frowning and quickly looking back at Valentino.

"She still hasn't come back...huh?" The cat looked up at her, then looked away as if he understood what she had said. Buttercup sighed and petted him absentmindedly. Her gaze drifted to the clock, it was a little after noon. She and Bubbles had spent most of the night up tossing and turning, finally drifting off only after Bubbles burst into tears and cried for quite possibly the longest time Buttercup could ever remember.

'What do we do now?' She thought, looking toward the window. In the distance, Townsville was starting to come around, but she had a feeling that this time recovery was going to take longer than ever. Buttercup stopped and listened closely. She could hear the coffee pot steaming downstairs and, she now noticed, the smell wafting up the stairs. Buttercup frowned and listened closer. There were voices downstairs. She gasped and turned to Bubbles, so quickly she knocked Valentino over. The cat glared at her and hopped off the bed, trotting out of the room.

"Bubbles! Bubbles wake up! Bubbles!" The blue puff moaned and slowly pushed herself up, looking around dizzily. She spotted Buttercup's excited expression and rubbed her eyes.

"What is it? What happened?" Buttercup grabbed her arm and dragged her out of bed, flying out the door. Bubbles groaned and tugged back just as they were halfway down the stairs.

"Buttercup! What's the big idea?" She asked, glaring sleepily. Buttercup started to respond, but then they both heard a man's voice from the kitchen.

"Oh no, he was a friendly fellow...I don't think I'd have made it without his help! He was just so...rough," Bubbles gasped and stared at Buttercup, who was once more grinning so wide that it had to be uncomfortable. With matching screams, the two flew down at top speed, throwing themselves into the arms of their target, who managed to catch them at the last second.

"Professor! Professor!" They screamed, hugging him desperately, even Buttercup crying silent, unashamed. The Professor hugged them back tightly, tears leaking down his cheeks.

"Bubbles! Buttercup...oh I missed you so much," Bubbles threw her arms around his neck and gave him an especially wet kiss, burying her face in his shoulder afterward. Ms. Keane sat in her seat, watching with a small smile, lightly dabbing her eyes with a napkin.

"We missed you too! You're back! Professor don't ever leave again!" Bubbles sobbed. Buttercup was silent, merely burying her face in his chest and clutching his shirt tightly. The Professor gave them both a kiss and squeezed them with all his strength.

"Don't worry, don't worry I'm home now. I'm not going anywhere...shh, it's alright. Everything is going to be alright," The family of four sat there for a long time, merely drawing comfort from each others presence. When at long last the girls pulled away from their father, the joy began to evaporate.

"Professor...Professor I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," Buttercup whispered, holding her head and staring at the table, watching the steam rise from the Professor's coffee. The Professor shot a look at Ms. Keane, who lowered her head and bit her lip.

"Why don't...we start from the beginning girls. I'll tell you my story, then you tell me yours...alright? A lot has happened, I think we need to regroup for a moment," The girls nodded and settled onto his lap. The Professor smiled at them and popped his pipe into his mouth, lighting it and taking a few puffs before beginning.

As he told the story, the girls listened intensely, not interrupting until he reached the part where he met the monks. Bubbles slowly raised her hand, making the Professor chuckle.

"Yes, Bubbles?" He asked.

"Who were they?" The Professor shook his head and took another puff of his pipe.

"That will...I'll explain that bit a little later," Bubbles nodded and the Professor continued. He got to the part where he'd left off before, telling Ms. Keane about the Scottish lodge owner who had loaned him his sword. Buttercup snickered and Bubbles giggled.

"What's so funny?" He asked, giving them both a wry smirk. Buttercup snickered and grinned up at him.

"You trying to use a sword," The Professor chuckled and nodded, giving Ms. Keane a wink.

"Yes...it was certainly out of my element..." They fell silent again as he described his trek up the mountain. Bubbles gasped, unknowingly matching Ms. Keane's expression, when the Professor told them about his fight with the goat monster. Ms. Keane closed her eyes and shook her head, hearing how he was thrown from the mountain.

"J-Professor...oh my word, Professor, are you alright? How...how did you get passed it?" The Professor took a deep breath and took his pipe from his mouth.

"I was lying in the snow...I couldn't move, and I was slowly freezing. Everything hurt, I'm sure you girls can imagine," The girls nodded, staring up at him in awe, "Then I heard a voice...the monks, they were speaking to me. And...as I started to lose, I thought about you girls. I remembered that you were counting on me, and it...gave me a strength I never knew I had,"

The girls smiled and blushed. Buttercup seemed especially interested as he described his second battle with the goat, both girls cheering when he told them how he defeated it. Then came the most intriguing part of the story. He described his meeting with none other than Samurai Jack, the warrior who defeated Aku before.

"So...you...you were...you were the hero?" Buttercup asked, her heart pounding in her ears. The Professor had always been a goofy, lame old man. Sure, he had fought a lot of criminals as Power Prof but...

"Yes...or rather, I was in my past life," He sighed and put his pipe in his mouth again. Buttercup blushed darkly as she stared at him, seeing him in an entirely new light. Her father was once the greatest hero ever born?

"W-Wow..." She finally managed to whisper. Bubbles wore a similar look of awe, hugging the Professor again.

"I always knew you were a hero, Professor!" She chirped, making the Professor blush and laugh sheepishly.

"Thank you Bubbles..." Ms. Keane smiled, and begrudgingly interrupted them.

"What did the Samurai say, Professor? How can the girls defeat Aku?" The Professor swallowed and leaned back in his chair.

"It's a very...complicated matter. Why don't you girls tell me your story and then I'll try to explain it?" The girls nodded and began speaking at the same time. They stopped and looked at each other, then Buttercup took the lead. She told the Professor about waking up in the middle of the night, and about her conversation with Blossom. The Professor sat in stony silence, staring at the other end of the kitchen. He cleared his throat and looked down at Buttercup.

"And you don't know where she went?" Buttercup paused and shook her head.

"No..." She replied in a weak whisper. Bubbles whimpered and covered her mouth. The Professor nodded and took another puff of his pipe.

"Go on..." Buttercup nodded and began to retell how she and Bubbles fought against Mojo's robot. The Professor listened closely, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Bubbles threw in her own comments, telling her half of the story. The two had spent the greater part of the fight separated. The Professor couldn't help smiling, hearing how the Rowdyruff Boys had joined the girls to stop Mojo. His heart froze when Buttercup began to, very nervously, describe just how Bubbles and she were able to overpower the robot.

"You...I see...how...how far do you think you went?" He asked. Buttercup and Bubbles looked ashamed, turning their eyes down.

"Not...not very far...maybe a little more than Blossom did when she fought Princess," Buttercup whispered. The Professor sighed and nodded.

"Well...well you didn't have any other options...and, I'm partially glad you did. I'm afraid you girls may need...all of your power to stop Aku," Bubbles and Buttercup turned up to the Professor, who wore an expression of intense concentration. He nodded, answering their unasked question. Bubbles and Buttercup traded a glance. The Professor rubbed his chin, flinching slightly when Valentino brushed against his leg.

"Go get dressed girls, we'll eat some lunch and then...then I'll try to explain what Jack told me," The girls nodded and floated into the air. Both hesitated and quickly gave him another kiss before hurrying off. Ms. Keane moved to sit beside him; Valentino leapt into her lap. She rested her hand on his arm and pulled him close, kissing him softly.

"We can do this...right?" She whispered. The Professor smiled and nodded, patting her hand.

"Yes...yes we can do this. They can do this...if anyone can do this, it's my girls,"

XxXxX

"Bubbles hurry up! I'm starving!" Buttercup hurried out of the closet, flipping up her hair and smirking at her reflection in the mirror. She was worried about Blossom, of course, but somehow she felt...more confident. That was it, the Professor being back had definitely made everything seem more hopeful. With a resolute nod she turned back to the closet and grumbled.

"Come on Bubbles!" With an exasperated sigh, she flew out the door, which slowly swung shut behind her. Bubbles came out of the closet a few seconds later, fluffing her pigtails and smiling brightly at her reflection. The light coming in through the windows suddenly dimmed. Bubbles blinked and looked around.

Bubbles...Buuuubbles...

"Octi?" She whispered, crawling onto the bed and nearer to her doll. Octi sat on the pink strip in the middle of the bed, smiling vacantly at her.

That's right Bubbles...I need to talk to you

"Octi, the Professor is home! He's going to tell us how to save Blossom!" Bubbles whispered excitedly, beaming at the doll. Octi chuckled softly.

You can't save Blossom...not now Bubbles...

Bubbles gasped and shook her head, glaring angrily at the doll. The light seemed to dim further, taking on a red tinge.

"N...No! No you're lying Octi...we can...we can save her!" Octi chuckled again and Blossom's vanity mirror turned red, a wisp of red smoke slipping into the room. Bubbles swallowed, sweat pouring down her face.

Blossom...has been a very...very bad girl...

"What...what do you mean?" Bubbles asked, barely able to breath. The red smoke drifted around her, lightly flipping one of her pigtails. Bubbles swallowed and shuddered.

Come with me and I'll show you...I'll tell you everything Bubbles...I've never lied to you

Bubbles shuddered and bit her lip. Octi continued to stare at her without blinking.

"I...I know it's you...I know it's you doing this," She whispered, a determined look in her eye. Octi chuckled and the smoke drifting around her grew thicker.

I never said it wasn't...now did I?

"What...why...why are you doing this?" Her throat hurt, her eyes were stinging, but she couldn't look away, she couldn't blink. Not when he was sitting right there in front of her.

Because Bubbles...I care about you. I care a lot...Blossom needs to be...punished

"Why?" It was barely a sound at all...a ghost of a whisper. Octi continued to smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Come with me...I'll tell you everything you need to know

Bubbles panted, her dress was sticking to her skin. She trembled and looked around nervously, then slowly nodded. The red smoke whipped up around her and faded away. The room returned to normal; Bubbles and Octi were nowhere to be found.