~Chapter Two~
[Right as Rain]
There stood Jennyanydots, looking radiant as ever, her bright hazel eyes sparkling at the sight of the Railway Cat. She seemed to have a piece of her crochet work draped around her shoulders, of soft green and rich royal blue that formed an elegant striped pattern. He smiled involuntarily at the sight of her. His Jenny.
"I just finished this last night; thought you might want it for your trip." She nearly skipped over to him and looped the scarf around Skimbleshank's neck, tying it loosely. "It gets cold up north."
The tom felt his heart beat a little louder in his chest when he felt her paw brush against his fur, and couldn't help but let a half a second of purring slip from his throat. He and Jennyanydots had been together for months now, but she never failed to make him feel like a kitten on nip.
"Oh, don't you worry about me, love," he tutted, even though he wanted her to. They started to walk down the sidewalk.
"I know, I know," she hummed with a smile. "You'll be 'right as rain' as you always say."
The couple continued to pad down the pavement in comfortable silence, then Skimbleshanks piped up again as they turned a corner.
"So how 'bout you? How have you been?"
He thought he saw Jennyanydots bite her lip a little, and her chest rose and fell heavily with a sigh before she spoke.
"Fine."
The orange tabby furrowed his brow slightly.
"Just...fine?"
The Gumbie queen raised her tucked chin and peeked at him, her eyes searching his. For what, Skimbleshanks didn't know, but they almost had a desperate glaze to them that made him subconsciously stop in his tracks. She stopped as well, and the silence reappeared. But less comfortable than last time. In fact, it was almost painful.
Jennyanydots blinked and started to stutter.
"I-I'm fine, Skimble. Really." Her front paws shuffled a little before she suddenly leaped and wrapped her paws around his neck. "I'll miss you," she whispered, brushing a kiss against his cheek.
His eyes fluttered slightly, a bit of the nip syndrome coming back, and then he laced his arms protectively around her waist, pulling her as close to him as possible.
"I love you," he answered at a similar volume.
The couple continued to walk. They parted ways when they passed the Junkyard, but not without another kiss, and then the Railway tom started to pick up the pace as he headed for the station.
