III – Nostalgia Kindling


Special Thanks to the normal crew, of course.


Munkustrap thought it was odd how up until the point where his brother was devastated by his break up he'd thought they weren't close despite knowing everything about his sibling. But now, as his brother wallowed in a sort of self-pity, Munkustrap was certain that he didn't know Tugger at all, and in learning about him aided their closeness. Maybe that was a missing link when they were growing up. Munkustrap couldn't remember much of their childhood. Munkustrap was the eldest of the three brothers, and to a different mother than Macavity and Tugger. Macavity and Tugger shared the same dam, but were from different litters and, though there wasn't a considerable difference in age between Munkustrap and Macavity, Old Deuteronomy's mates going into labor around the same time, there was a bit of one between them and Tugger.

As Macavity grew bad, Old Deuteronomy expressed his fear that Tugger would follow Macavity's footsteps. This concern was first brought up when Macavity started to come home with bloodied arms sticky with fur but, upon close inspection it became clear that Macavity wasn't the one that was injured. The only one of the brothers gifted with magic, Old Deuteronomy tried to rein him in, guiding him, but it seemed to be a lost cause the older Macavity became.

But, fortunately, the bad didn't seem to run through the very small bloodline as Tugger, bold as he was, never seemed one for fighting, instead preening upon his looks, lavishing with attention from his human home, one with little girls. Tugger never explicitly said so, but Munkustrap was certain his brother was afraid of Macavity. There were little giveaways, how Tugger would conveniently disappear any time Macavity showed up, or, if in a position where he had to stay, latching to Old Deuteronomy's, or even sometimes Munkustrap's, side. Tugger was always a physical cat, but those touches he instigated weren't for pleasure or sensation but support. Comfort.

Come to think of it, there were some good times Munkustrap had with Tugger when he was little. Munkustrap couldn't help his affection for all of the cats, Old Deuteronomy's persona really coming off on him, more so than the other two sons. He loved to wrestle around with Tugger, scruffing up his unruly mane, and sometimes allowing himself to get pounced. Those tackles were put to an end when Tugger reached his teenage years and Munkustrap was stunned to discover that Tugger was taller than him and had a pretty strong ram which once knocked the wind out of Munkustrap. Old Deuteronomy felt it was time to change their wrestling into lessons, and suggested that Munkustrap continue to develop his art of storytelling to capture his brother's attention, and eventually the tribe. Munkustrap went a step beyond that, learning everything he could from Socrates, one of the elders in the tribe and Plato's father, and passed on what he could. He taught Tugger tricks for his home family, such as lifting a paw at the door when he'd want to go out, though he never imagined that Tugger would take such advantage of it later on in life. Sometimes, when Tugger was truly impossible, he sorely regretted teaching him anything.

"Munkus?" Demeter's voice penetrated Munkustrap's thoughts and he lifted his head abruptly, disoriented at first before realizing he was on top of the car hood and must have fallen asleep when on watch. He rose to his feet abruptly, perturbed by that realization, though Demeter didn't seem to be distraught.

"Hey. Everything all right?" Munkustrap questioned, eyes scanning the junkyard, calculating. Everything seemed to be in order, at least.

"All things considered."

All things considered? "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." The queen climbed up alongside Munkustrap, dropping to sit on the hood, the tom following suit, an arm moving around her back. Demeter didn't lean into his touch.

Munkustrap's eyes softened. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Was just wondering if you were going to your human family tonight."

"Was planning on it." Munkustrap paused as Demeter stiffened. "… should I not?"

"Just was curious, that's all." Demeter stalled, and Munkustrap somewhat doubted his mate.

"I can stay if you want me to."

"Might be nice. You've been busy a lot recently."

"I have?"

"I feel like I never get any time with you anymore outside of tribe activities. You spend all your time with your brother."

"So you're saying that I can't spend time with family pretty much."

Demeter turned her head, eyes narrowing. "I wasn't aware that I'm not family anymore. Is Jemima not your daughter anymore either?"

Munkustrap sighed. "I didn't mean it like that. You know I didn't."

"What the hell's going on with Tugger? It's got you bent out of shape."

"I'm fine. He's… Tugger's having a really hard time right now. I need to be there for him. No one else would be."

"Bombalurina would be."

"I think a pity fuck is the last thing he wants."

"It'd be nice if you respected my best friend a little more."

"If she didn't spread her legs for every tom that walked her direction, maybe I would have more respect for her."

"She doesn't do that."

"Oh really? Pretty sure she's a cougar."

"You know, you really can be an arse sometimes."

"I'm not the one going after teenage boys."

"Bombalurina's upset. She thinks she did something. He won't talk to her at all."

"Is that what this is about? She has nothing to do with Tugger being upset. Tell her that."

"Why don't you tell her that?"

"I could."

"Munkus!"

"What?"

"I hate it when you try to avoid the subject."

"Demeter, I--"

"No, you listen to me and answer me. What's wrong with the Rum Tum Tugger?" Munkustrap removed his arm from Demeter's back to cross it in front of his stomach, shifting his weight. "Munkus, don't you try to get out of this, I swear to the Everlasting Cat."

"It's no one's business but his."

"What could be so wrong?"

"A lot. If it were something I could talk about, I would. You'd be the first cat I'd tell."

"But this is ridiculous! It's distracting you so much it's like no one exists but him!"

"Bollocks! I have nothing to do with the equation! This is personal to my brother, and I'm not breaching his trust!" Munkustrap snapped, rising to his feet sharply. "If Bombalurina's that upset, tell her to fucking talk to him rather than through you to me. I'm out."

"God, you're impossible."

"Because he trusted me enough to confide in me? I told you, I'm not breaching that trust. I'm not betraying him."

"Well, when can I even begin to trust you?"

"What?" Munkustrap folded his arms over his chest.

"You guys could be going to those clubs. Bustopher Jones would let you in."

"Oh for the love of--he's not trying to pick up queens." Demeter snorted, and Munkustrap added with a groan, "Trust me on that one. Just… trust me."

"And you?"

"And me what?"

"You said he wasn't trying to pick up queens. Are you?"

"Please tell me that was a poor attempt at humor."

"You have three mates. Were you planning on picking up a fourth?"

"Demeter…" He sighed before bending over and taking her paws in his, bringing them to his lips gently, but his mate didn't seem pacified by the gesture like she normally would be. "Demeter, I love you with all my heart. You know that… please say you know that."

"Sometimes I wonder if I do."

"Demeter…" Munkustrap looked at her paws, ones that were large for her petite size. He had wondered if Jemima would grow as tall as her but doubted it. Actually, he'd wondered how all of the cats would grow, and some of the assumptions he had that were wrong. He'd thought that Pouncival would be tall and refined, but instead he was awkwardly stocky and short. He'd thought Electra would be a little smaller. He'd thought Plato would be only average size.

It was troubling, in hindsight, how many things he thought were actually wrong.


Munkustrap had thought the interrogations about Tugger would stop after he gave his mate a refined no but, for the next week any time he'd return to the Junkyard after a night at home, he'd be swarmed by the queens and kittens. Once, it brought out an angry frustration scream, "NO!" They didn't ask him about it again until two weeks had passed and Tugger still denied them, not bothering to flirt, not in the mood for hip gyration. And, though he wouldn't admit it, as obnoxious as it was, Munkustrap missed that.

"Have you talked with him at all recently?" Munkustrap asked Tugger from where he sat at the edge of the dock. They'd chased off a few stray cats hanging around the premise, and Tugger took it upon himself to mark territory along the entire perimeter rather than just the one side. Munkustrap glanced over his shoulder to watch his sibling.

"Sort of."

"Well, that's good."

"I guess." Tugger re-zipped his fly before kneeling along the dock, washing his paws in the saltwater. "He's getting worse."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. You know, he went to Electra for company. Electra."

"… well she is the butchest kitten in the tribe if he's going to go back in the closet."

"You suck. You suck so much."

"No, I think that's your department, not mine."

"Fuck you." Tugger exhaled. "It's masochism. He's latching onto whatever he can get since he can't have me."

"Codependency's never a good thing."

"Or he's trying to hurt me."

"Revenge isn't a good thing either."

"Ugh, Munk, seriously."

"I was trying to cheer you up."

"By saying that?"

"I didn't want to lie."

Tugger shook his paws to rid the excess water as he sat back, glancing to the side where a swordfish sat between them, nose wrinkling.

"What's wrong with it?" Munkustrap asked warily.

"I'd rather have bass."

"The last time you told me you hated bass and wanted swordfish."

"Yeah, well, I changed my mind."

"Ugh, you're obnoxious. Do you want me to get something else for you?"

"No."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

"You going to eat at all?"

"Probably not."

"You should."

"Not hungry."

"Bollocks."

Tugger grunted before he used a claw to spear a segment of fish, chewing it with his mouth open. "Happy?" Munkustrap shrugged.

"I would be if you closed your mouth. Your breath smells rancid."

"Your face is rancid." Tugger shifted his weight before lying back, legs still dangling over the edge as he looked to the sky. "I miss him."

Munkustrap shifted onto his side as he lay down, watching his sibling's profile. There was a shallow rise and fall of his chest. A melancholic face. "It'll take some adjustment. How long were you two together?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, come on."

"I really don't know. It kind of blends together, the change from friends to more." Lines creased his brow. "You're absolutely certain that this is the best for him?" Tugger asked, turning his head. Hazel eyes pleaded, and Munkustrap had to break contact for a moment to recollect himself.

"Tugger, I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise."

"It's not just because he's a tom, right?"

"What? No!" Munkustrap paused, then continued. "That's irrelevant. Who you date or don't, I mean. If he wasn't Macavity's…"

"You know that really doesn't bother me, right?" Tugger shifted and looked to the sky again. "I mean, I don't see the problem with it. Two cats in love. And bad genetic luck."

"If you grew up with him as your nephew, hypothetically, helped raise him since an infant, would you feel the same?"

"That's unfair, Munk."

"I'm serious. Would you have?"

"I've known him for years. We've both known him for years."

"But not as family."

"Damn it, Munk! Why the hell do you have to ask me shit like this? You know I hate it."

"I'm asking you it because that's exactly what the cats will be asking you if they found out."

"If I can have him, I wouldn't care about that."

"And that's what they'd ask him too. Then, tie in his relation, his magic, they'd be accusing him of brainwashing you."

"That's shit! Complete and utter shit! I pursued him, not the other way around."

"They'll call you a pedo."

"Go to hell."

"I'm serious."

Tugger shifted his weight, chewing his lower lip. "Hey Munk?"

"Hn?"

"You don't think I'm one… do you?"

"… no. I don't."

"You hesitated."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"… it's not important."

"So you do think I'm one."

"Well… you do shake your arse in the kittens' faces."

"Oh, come on. You don't think I actually enjoy that, do you? … okay, bad example. But that's not supposed to get me off. I think it's funny as hell."

"Right."

"What? I do! And I gotta teach the younguns how to pick up chicks. Plato's my prodigy; he's so becoming the master of love."

"I thought that was Alonzo."

"Nah, he's a prick. Totally takes after you." A grin came to his face, but Munkustrap suspected it was forced. "Plato. Plato's the prodigy master of love for certain. … or was until he got with Victoria."

"Uh huh."

"I kinda think Pouncival's a lost cause."

"You're not the only one."

"I know."

"Kind of amazing he actually got some."

"He went after Bomba. Not like that's a challenge."

"Admetus?"

"Hm?"

"What about him?"

"I think he enjoys himself a bit too much. Guy's frickin' hysterical."

"That's not what I meant."

"Huh?"

"You need company. Plato's taken, you think Alonzo's a prick, so what about Admetus?"

"You mean to—he's not my type. … and I'm not gay."

"Okay."

"I'm not! I'm just… curious is all."

"I never asked if you were."

"Yeah, well you were thinking it."

"Tug?"

"What?"

"I meant it when I said I didn't care about who you date. I mean male or female. You're still my brother."

"You mean you didn't care when you found out?"

"Considering the circumstances. I was more shocked than anything. Kind of wondered why you didn't tell me before."

"You'd have thought I was bullshitting you."

"I know. And I'm not bullshitting you when I say I support you no matter what."

"Yeah… I know."

"Okay. Good."

Tugger turned on his back once more, looking to the sky. "I considered it."

"Hm?"

"Admetus."

A smile played on Munkustrap's lips. "He's not so bad. Little stoned."

"I couldn't do it. I don't want to be with someone when I'm thinking about someone else."

"Is that why you've been turning the queens down?"

"I don't know why I've been turning them down."

"Tug?"

"What?"

"It's gonna be okay. Somehow."

"Munk?"

"What?"

"You know it's not."

Munkustrap sighed as he sat upright and gazed across the water. "Yeah. I know."


"Why so low, Brutus?" Pouncival asked, ball beneath his foot as he caught his breath from an impromptu game of soccer. His younger brother had dropped to the ground before the start of the game, stating that he was content to watch from the crest of a small hill. Pouncival didn't push but when he noticed his brother's stature, knees pulled to his chest, arms encircling the calves, face buried against the caps, he worried. His brother lifted his head, and Pouncival felt more reason to be concerned. Tumblebrutus's eyes were moist although the fur on his cheeks was dry and he offered a smile.

"It's nothing. Don't let me keep you from your game. You were kicking serious arse, Pounce."

"Come on, I'm against Admetus. Not like I'm missing much. And like hell it's nothing."

"Tumble, are you okay?" Etcetera's voice was always loud, even when she wasn't yelling. She didn't wait for an answer as she picked up a jog to join them. Now, Etcetera was slightly taller than Pouncival, more noticeable standing next to him; the shorts she kept from last year exposed more thigh. Tumblebrutus noticed how subtly Pouncival glanced down at Etcetera's legs before looking back at her face nonchalantly; it was admirable, really, how his brother could adapt to each queen or kitten he encountered, and a mystery as to why his brother was still single.

"I'm fine, Etcetera," Tumblebrutus answered. "Just a little homesick."

"But you are home." Pouncival blinked, and Etcetera smacked the back of his head lightly before gesturing to her neck. "What? Do I have a hickey or something?"

"Idiot! I was miming a collar."

"But you don't have one."

"No, but Tumble does."

"Yeah, well why'd he—oh." Pouncival frowned further. Homesick for a human family. That was something he couldn't relate to, something he couldn't be sympathetic toward. His encounters with humans weren't anything special. "… sorry." He looked to Etcetera before abandoning the ball to sit next to Tumblebrutus, legs spread before him, one arm over his brother's back. Etcetera dropped to the other side of Pouncival.

"You really must miss them," she commented. Like Pouncival, she'd always been a stray but that's where they differed. She longed for a loving family, one to dote attention on her, provide her food, shelter; Pouncival could care less. But that didn't matter, she still wanted one, she thought it'd be nice. And, judging by the way Tumblebrutus swallowed, she was sure her assumption was right.

"They're good people," he whispered. "I wanna go back. They probably wondered where I went. They probably worry about me."

Pouncival shifted uncomfortably before shaking his head. It'd been a meeting, more like a council and vote, for what to do with Tumblebrutus that night Mungojerrie carried him home. And, after some debate, the decision was made to keep the tom at the junkyard. Sending him home would send him to the vet, and Tumblebrutus was too naïve to realize that many who went to the vet never came back. "You're too sick," Pouncival tried to explain.

"But they could take me to the vet. Maybe he's got medicine we don't have."

Pouncival struggled to continue. "You honestly think that you'll be okay after a trip to the vet? Brutus, some things… things like these… it's too dangerous."

"I felt better when I went to the vet after I got the flu. You remember that."

"Yeah, but Brutus--"

"So I don't see why I can't go home, see them, get some R&R, some antibiotics, and be back on my feet."

Pouncival ground his teeth before moving his arm from his brother's back. He'd kill him, but if it'd get him to lay off the guilt trip it'd ease the pain of his own guilty heart. "Brutus, trust me, this is more serious than getting shots and a thermometer shoved up your butt."

"They put a thermometer up your butt?" Etcetera asked, and Tumblebrutus's cheeks flushed scarlet.

"Pounce, you promised you wouldn't say anything!" he hissed.

"Ewwwwwwwww~!" Etcetera squealed, nose wrinkling up, voice carrying across the junkyard.

"Are you guys gonna come back to play or what? Alonzo, Plato, and Jemima are trying to claim themselves the victors saying you forfeited." Admetus asked alongside Electra as the duo came up the hill.

Etcetera didn't answer Admetus but rather instead flung herself at Electra, nearly knocking the older kitten over. "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ewwwwww~ Human vets put a thermometer up Tumble's butt!"

"Sh-shut up!" Tumblebrutus squealed, trying to press himself into the grass.

"Are you serious? … ow," Electra shuddered, though Admetus choked, then cracked up.

"Oh my God, are you ser--ahahahaaha, YO! ALONZO! PLATO! COME OVER HERE! GUESS WHAT?!"

"Don't you dare, Admetus!" Tumblebrutus threatened, but his protests were in vain. A dirty glare was fixed on Pouncival. "You suck at keeping promises."

"Oh, come on, I didn't think it was a big deal," Pouncival snorted, words muted by Plato and Alonzo's wild howls, clearly having heard the news. By that point, Tumblebrutus had lifted his paws up and pressed them to his ears.

"It's not funny! The vets haven't gotten another way to do it yet! All house cats have to!"

"What's all the fuss about?" Jemima's tender voice rang like bells from where she approached alongside Victoria. Tumblebrutus's eyes shot wide open, terror coming to his face. His admiration for Jemima wasn't exactly a secret. Subdued at times, more so since becoming ill, since recovering from his body's detox to the nip, but there was no question that he lived to impress her. To make her happy. Or try at least. Kissing her had been just a start, something he hadn't been able to continue after Munkustrap caught them, but it was something he dreamed about, something where he'd sometimes wake up messy.

"Hey ladies!" Admetus grinned. "Tumblebrutus was just telling us how when he goes to the vets they stick a-AHHHH!" The stray scrambled backward suddenly as Tumblebrutus was on his feet, springing in the air, Pouncival barely fast enough to intercept as he knocked Tumblebrutus to the ground.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Tumblebrutus struggled, fists formed, wriggling hard in an attempt to break free.

"Brutus, calm the fuck down!" Pouncival spluttered.

"YOU GUYS ARE SUCH ASSHOLES! Let me go!"

"Brutus, do you want to risk bloodying him up and getting him sick?!"

Tumblebrutus froze, then his body went limp. "I wanna go home."

Pouncival shifted unsurely as he rose to his feet, pulling Tumblebrutus up with him. "All right… come on, kid. Let's go home. Maybe Mom can make us something special to eat."

"No. No, I mean home. My other home."

Pouncival shook his head. "Brutus, you can't do that."

"But I want to go home…"

"Maybe we can get you something new to wear. Something fun."

"I don't want that. I want to go home… why can't I go?"

Pouncival didn't answer, eyes closing before he looked at their collected group of friends, now fairly silent. "Hey guys, I'm going to just go on a little walk with Brutus. We'll catch up with you guys later?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course. Is there anything we can do?" Alonzo said, a tone more serious than he'd previously used. There little group seemed terse, a joke taken too far, teases that weren't appropriate.

"Maybe make some plans for dinner. Something fun. You'd like that, right Brutus?"

"I want to go home," Tumblebrutus insisted, a wet sheen over his eyes from holding back tears.

"…is Tumble going to be okay?" Jemima asked sweetly, gently and concerned as Pouncival led Tumblebrutus by the paw, his younger brother at first balking before submitting.

"Yeah. Yeah, he's cool," Pouncival murmured. "He's just a little homesick, so we're gonna go for a walk, and see where Mom is, and we'll be back."

"I mean my other home," Tumblebrutus whimpered, though he conceded to being pulled.

Plato scooted toward Victoria then, a more tender expression on his face as he slid alongside her, an arm around her back, a paw lightly resting on her stomach. "Hey babe. You feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, Plato." A kind smile as she lifted her head, lips pressing against his gently. "I'm worried about him."

"Yeah… me too. But there's not much we can do."

"I know…"

The air still felt too tense, and Plato cleared his throat before attempting a joke. "Your human family keeps you too far away from me!" Plato lamented, nuzzling her head, Victoria giggling awkwardly in response.

"God, you guys are sappy," Alonzo murmured, smirking a little though he was mildly distracted as he watched the smaller dots of the brothers, now seeming to have stopped in debate.

"Don't be jealous just because I have the most beautiful girlfriend on the planet," Plato shot back, squeezing her closer, then paused as if lost in thought, staring ahead slightly. The change in demeanor was too quick, too startling, something that distracted the group from their awkward encounter before. It was too meditated.

"Is he thinking of his name?" Electra wondered aloud, but Plato's response nullified that.

"Hey Vicky, Jemima, you two have human homes, right?"

"Yeah." A unanimous, albeit wary, reply. And Plato, ever so seriously, looked them dead in the eye.

"Do vets really stick thermometers up your butt?"


"Hey," Bombalurina called. Tugger looked at her before turning his head away.

"Not interested."

"I wasn't coming for that."

"You always come for that."

"I'm worried about you."

"Ha."

"No. I'm serious."

Tugger rolled his eyes as he continued down the alley, terse as Bombalurina's footsteps came up, jerking his arm as she touched him.

"I thought we were friends," Bombalurina stated.

"We are."

"You've been such a dick."

"I don't feel like it."

"You haven't felt like it for weeks."

"It happens."

"You haven't since Macavity showed up."

"It's sad that you remember dates."

"Tugger, that night you changed. Ever since you had that argument with Misoffelees."

Nothing.

"You guys were practically best friends. I don't know if you could really call it that. Now you don't even talk. Electra said you walked in on her with him. She said she thought you'd tear her to shreds."

Tugger sighed and faced her. "I wasn't pissed at her. I was pissed at Mistoffelees for using her."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Was there another reason?"

Tugger frowned, thumbs hooking in his belt. "I guess."

"Is it the one I'm thinking of?" Tugger didn't answer. "So it was."

"… yeah. No, is. Was. I don't know."

"And you've kept this all to yourself?"

"Yeah. No. No, Munk. I talk with Munk about it."

"So that's what your talks have been about."

"Yeah. I guess."

"How's he with it?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry. He feels sorry."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Now's really not the time to be offering to suck me off."

"I have pride, thank you very much!" Bombalurina snorted and looked to the side.

"Sorry."

"I meant it though. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You still want to help me even through this? I thought you loved me."

"You're my friend. A friend with benefits. I love you, but not like that. That spot's already been taken. Been taken for years."

Tugger was stunned. "You… love someone?"

And, Bombalurina, seeming to realize the error in her words, tensed before again shrugging. "Doesn't matter."

"Oh, don't you dare. I just confessed my story, don't you dare hold out on me."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Is it someone I know?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"That's a yes. A friend of mine?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Another yes. Is he handsome? Tall?"

"No, no, and no."

"… is he really a she?"

Bombalurina was quiet.

"Dude, you lezzed out? That's awesome!"

"Ugh, you're so fucking degrading sometimes!"

"What? I was trying to lighten the mood."

"Well, you blew it."

"Who is it?"

"Like hell I'd tell you."

"I can keep a secret."

"Drop it."

Tugger's expression softened. "… Cass?"

"Cass?" Bombalurina's face lit up for a moment as if considering the queen for the first time though she shook her head.

"… Demeter, then."

Bombalurina didn't answer. Nor did she hug Tugger back when he embraced her. As her shoulder became wet from his tears, she stood tall and didn't weep.

"How can you live with it? Live every day wanting something you can't have."

"Distractions. Lots of distractions. … and I'm happy for what little I have."

"You've never thought about telling her?"

"She's crazy about Munk. You're not honestly going to suggest I try to break them up, are you?"

"No. It'd break Munk. He needs her."

"And she'd never speak to me again."

"… how can I help?"

"You can't."

"There must be some way," Tugger asked desperately, lifting his head from her shoulder, fur indented from tears.

"I'm happy for what I can get."

"How can you be happy? I have nothing with Mistoffelees. I can't get anything from him. It burns."

"Don't shut him out."

"But Munk said it'd hurt him more."

"That doesn't mean you have to shut him out. Talk with him. Be friends. Encourage him to do what it takes to be happy, even if it's at your expense."

"I don't think I could stand to see him with someone else."

"Do you think he could when you slept with all those queens?"

"I--"

"And continued to sleep with them while being with him."

"I didn't do that."

"Yes, you did. Do the math."

"No, I stopped when I was with him."

"No, you stopped when you broke up with him."

"… whatever. I fucked up, okay?"

"Don't apologize to me. I don't care about you being a cheating son of a bitch." Bombalurina sighed. "I'll talk with him. Keep him company."

"… not that sort of company?"

"Even if he weren't as gay as Christmas, not interested. At all. And I respect you."

"We could have been good together. You and me."

"Don't go there. Don't even think about going there, Tugger."

"I'm lonely."

"Don't."

"But--"

"Tugger, I swear to the Everlasting Cat I will never speak to you again."

With a sigh, and a nod of his head, he conceded. "Do you think he knew about me with..?"

"With other queens? Everyone knew. The only thing everyone doesn't know is that you two were exclusive."

"Do you think he was angry?"

"Probably."

"… damn it." Tugger's eyes lifted again. "We really could have been good together."

"Tugger," Bombalurina offered a deep sigh before squeezing his palm. "Let it go."

But what Tugger heard instead was "let him go" and, when he turned to kiss Bombalurina despite her threats, he did just that.


"If we have a son, I want him to be called Aristotle," Plato said decisively from where he lay on his back, Victoria pulled up on his chest.

"Aristotle? Pretty specific about that."

"You didn't know him before he left but Dad was Socrates, I'm Plato, and well, I want to continue the trend. Do you not like it?"

"I think it's a wonderful name, sweetheart."

"And if a girl, I don't know girl names."

"We still have some time to think about it, and they'll have names for themselves as well."

"Yeah. I still… I can't believe it."

"Me either. I wanted to be a mom for so long."

"I'm glad."

"… are you happy, Plato?"

"It means we're together forever. So yes."

"It's more than just that. You didn't want to have kids for awhile. You said that yourself."

"That was a long time ago."

"You do want this, right?"

"I do. I just… I'm scared."

"I'm scared, too," Victoria whispered. Her fingers linked with Plato's as she sighed, and he nuzzled the top of her head, shoulders drooping. It'd be the beginning of a chain, the tensions. He didn't know what was to come, the feelings of neglect, the stress of parenthood. For then he was content to hold her, and that was exactly what he did.


A/N: Thanks for sticking with me for this ridiculously long chapter. Much obliged. Now, this wasn't so bad, was it? I think it was fairly happy. Well, don't worry about that because chapter four is absolutely gruesome.