"We have to find Old Deuteronomy!" --Nope! Rewind!
"I have a gumbie cat in mind..." --Nope! Rewind FARTHER!
Okay... what about this...
TURN OF HEART
chapter 1-
"I don't know, but he doesn't seem to have any good intentions. Have you seen him before?" Deuteronomy asked his mate, Bella. Her parents named her Grizabella but it didn't really fit.
The queen shook her head. and crossed her legs gracefully. She invited him to sit as well. "I haven't, but noone was hurt and we know more of him than he knows of us." She said cooly
Deuteronomy sat down, their boys were asleep and Grizabella had come home. Her attempts to make the "big screen" had torn their family apart. Bella always wanted to be a Glamour Cat that everyone would recognize... now it took every ounce of love for Deuteronomy to let her come back.
"You know, this place could still be home," She tried to say. The intimidating figure had threatened their home, their family and friends. Moriarty... the name that now struck fear into the hearts of these Jellicles.
Bella came home in debt again and the Tom came to collect what she owed... A much larger sum than the time before.
"I don't think so, Bella." Deuteronomy cupped her chin affectionately. "We need to find somewhere else. Our boys won't be safe, and neither will you. I just don't understand. If it isn't gambling, how could these debts keep happening?" He posed the thought more than a question. She wouldn't answer even if he did ask her directly.
After a long pause, she asked, "Where are the boys sleeping now? It feels since forever ago that I've tucked in Tugsey or told a story to Strapper!" She said the nicknames excitedly. "It can wait until morning though." She wanted to keep the conversation light and Deuteronomy's thoughts off of her when she was gone.
A grey and black paw went to his cheek. "I'm sorry, it's been too long." And she kissed him, revelling in the moment he returned it. Both hearty and willing to share themself with the other.
Through their lovemaking, Deuteronomy could only revel in the time they were actually together. His beloved and himself. They shared complete and utter bliss.
When she tried to get up, he playfully slapped her rump and followed behind her. She was on her way to their son's old room. When she looked inside they weren't there. "Wh..Where are they?" She asked, he had already grabbed her paw to lead her to their new room. "In our old one. Since I took over the den, and the boys have grown so much, they're in here."
Deuteronomy let Bella poke her head into the dark room. And sure enough two similar shapes lay curled up in a nest of blankets and pillows. "You wouldn't even recognize them now. Munkustrap's gotten so tall he could easily look over you. And Tugger, well you'll just have to see them in the morning. You won't believe your eyes." Deuteronomy tried to guide her towards the den again. "Let them sleep til then at least."
Bella's eyes welled up with pride. Life had gone on without her and the selfish times she spent outside of her home had been for naught. "Alright, you haven't spoken too much ill will against me? I just want them to remember me like before. I'm home for good now" She said as they crawled into their own nest to sleep.
"Come morning, the world will spin still. And they will always love you, Bella." And Deuteronomy kissed her on her forehead as they drifted into sleep.