Need You Now

Why is forever never forever? I loved my husband more than anyone else in the world. He understood me better than both my sisters ever will. We made a vow to stay together "'til death do us part," but here we are a year later: divorced and still kicking.

"Butch wasn't marriage material," Blossom said.

I glared at my sister in annoyance. "Who was the one who suggested we get married in the first place?"

"Hold the phone! I did "suggest" that you and Butch should get married, but I never said anything about getting married in Vegas that very night!"

"Vegas weddings never last," Bubbles added.

"Shut up, Bubbles! You're guilty by association!"

Bubbles started to sob, and Boomer flew from the game room upstairs to his upset blonde wife (and look-alike) in the living room.

"What's wrong, sweetie pie?"

"Buttercup…yelled…at me…"

My brother-in-law slowly turned towards me. He probably was angry with me, but all I could see was a blue streak from when he flew down the stairs. I tried blinking away the image. It didn't work.

"What're you looking at?" I snarled. My vision had finally returned.

He ignored me and kissed Bubbles' forehead. "Do you want to come upstairs with Brick and me?"

She shook her head. "I'm all right."

"Apologize to Bubbles, Buttercup," Blossom ordered.

"Why should I apologize to her when she's the one who started this whole thing?"

"Actually, I was," Blossom interrupted. She was right though.

"It doesn't matter who started it because I'm going to finish this. Don't let me come down here again. Do you understand me Buttercup?"

"Whatever." He really doesn't think I'm afraid of him, does he?  

Boomer held Bubbles in a warm embrace before flying back to the game room. Seeing how much comfort he brought her reminded me of how Butch would hold me when I was upset. There were times where I had left bruises on his chest, but he never complained.

"What's wrong, Buttercup?" Bubbles asked in a worried tone. "You're crying."

I wiped a teardrop from my eye. Strange. I didn't even feel my eyes watering up. "I'm not crying. Something got in my eye is all," I smiled, "I'm not a baby like you."

"You were thinking about Butch," Blossom said matter-of-factly.

"Butch? Why would I be thinking about that guy? In case you forgot, I can't stand his guts!" My heart was racing.

"I haven't forgotten," she grinned.

All of a sudden, two streaks (Boomer's blue one, and a red one before it) flew past my sisters and I into the kitchen. A couple of loud thuds followed. Blossom went to see what was going on. Bubbles and I stared at each other with a pretty good idea of what the loud thuds were.

"What happened to my kitchen, Brick?" she screamed, observing the broken refrigerator and cabinets next to it.

"Your kitchen? Who pays the bills in this house?"

"Who's the one who cooks all your meals?" she retorted.

Brick admits defeat. "Touché."

Bubbles peaked at the kitchen, and gave Boomer a sinister glare after surveying the damage for herself. An irate Bubbles was not a good one to be the target of.

"You see, what had happened was Brick and I got hungry. Brick said he could beat me to the kitchen, and I was all like "no you can't," and he was like "prove it!" So…we raced. Unfortunately, Brick and I collided into each other when we made it to the kitchen, and he went one way while I went the other," Boomer pointed to the cabinet.

"I won!" Brick added, sticking out his tongue. "You owe me twenty dollars, Boom."

"Yeah, right," Boomer flipped him the bird.

"Grow up, you two," Bubbles sighed.

"You are going to fix my kitchen Brick," Blossom glared at her significant other.

"Please. I'm no repair man," he rolled his eyes.

Blossom grabbed Brick's collar. "I'm going to say it again: You are going to fix my kitchen, Brick!"

"Aye aye, Captain Blossom."

"Boomer will help you, too," Bubbles smiled.

"What? Why me?"

Bubbles bright aura succumbed to darkness, but her friendly smile never changed. "Because you're just as guilty as Brick is. So, you are going to help your brother fix Blossom's kitchen, right?"

Boomer shivered. "Yes, sweetie pie."

Bubbles jumped into her man's arms while Blossom continued to argue with hers. Both my sisters were going to get laid tonight. It was only a matter of time before Brick said all the right words to turn Blossom on, and Bubbles forgives people, especially Boomer, very quickly.

There was no need for me to stick around anymore. I grabbed my coat and left out the front door.

As I drove home that night (it was actually a quarter after one), all I could think about was the day Butch gave me the divorce papers. I should've seen it coming because he and I would bicker over the small stuff, but we had arguments all the time when we were just dating. Our marriage was short, with very few happy memories, but that doesn't mean I'm bitter towards marriage. I'd find marital bliss with someone else someday. Just not my ex.

When I parked my car by my apartment complex, a tall guy emerged from the shadows to greet me. It took everything in me not to put my keys back in the ignition and drive over him. Butch leaned against the hood of my black Honda Civic.

"What's up, Buttercup?" A smile tugged at his lips. He was staring at my lime green dress paired with a black leather jacket and boots. "Someone's looking good tonight."

He looked so sexy in his black T-shirt, ripped jeans, and green converses. I wasn't going to tell him that though.

"What are you doing here?" I bypassed Butch on my way to my apartment, but he flew passed me and beat me to the door.

"Why do think I'm here?" To reconcile, I slightly hoped. "I want my stuff," he answered in a bitter tone when I took too long to respond.

"Move out my way and I'll gladly let you get all your trash out my apartment," I pulled the keys to the apartment out of my coat pocket. "It's a good thing you came today. I was going to throw out all your junk tomorrow."

Then, in a flash, it happened. Butch had pinned against the door. The strong smell of Irish Spring lingering between us told me he had taken a shower recently. Probably before he came here. His emerald eyes made contact with my wondering lighter green ones. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but his stare did make me weak to my knees.

"I've missed you, Buttercup."

"Says the guy who filed for divorce from me!" I rolled my eyes. I could feel the waterworks dwelling up. Oh please. Not now. Not in front of Butch.

"You're still upset about the divorce?" he asked.

"Get away from me before I kill you," I uttered through clanged teeth. His question infuriated me to the point where my urge to cry died completely. Other than the Professor, no man was worth my tears. Not even my ex-husband.

"Stop bluffing. You wouldn't kill me even if you could."

He did have a point there.  

"I loved you more than I ever cared to express verbally. I couldn't help but love you even when I found out about the divorce! So, tell me how..."

"How what?"

My weak knees finally gave out and I fell to the concrete sidewalk. I had a firm stare on Butch, who was still standing by me. The dam of anger concealing my river of tears quickly crumbled. Gosh, I really hate crying.

"How could you not love me anymore Butch?"

Butch stood quietly. His expression remained unreadable, which pissed me off. There I was, the ex-wife he claimed to have missed earlier, crying on my knees while he watched. Now I feel like a fool trying to hang on to something that died a long time ago.

Strong arms wrapped around me as I cried into my hands. The potent smell of Irish Spring took me by surprise again. I remembered this embrace. It was the same embrace I recollected when I was over Blossom's house. The one Butch gave me whenever I was upset.

"That's a stupid question. I couldn't stop loving you if I tried! It's just...being married scared the living shitake mushrooms out of me! I didn't know how to tell you…"

"You're a coward." My sobbing grew louder, but not because I was relieved to know he still loved me (even though I was). I really didn't know why. There was an embarrassing sound coming from my mouth, but he never stopped holding me. Just like the good o' days.

---

What the future holds for us, I don't know. We could be back together by sunrise, or go our separate ways again. All I knew was I needed him then more than ever.

It was supposed to be our first wedding anniversary, after all.