Mungojerrie was walking the now familiar route home from the Hotel. It had been three weeks since he'd discovered the tribe and he was surprised at how settled he felt there. He smiled as he realised it was about time he told Rumpleteazer about it.

The first night he'd left the Hotel did everything he promised himself he'd do. He apologised to Rumpleteazer and she was so happy to see some of her old Jerrie back that she almost choked him… in a loving way of course.

Jerrie turned a corner and froze, not out of fear but out of curiosity. Up ahead he could hear Teazer talking to the Rum Tum Tugger. Tugger lived a block away from the tiger twins and sometimes walked home with them. Now that Rumpleteazer was walking back alone Tugger made a point of walking with her, for protection. Everyone knew Teazer could look after herself but since Jerrie's exile she hadn't been the same perky queen and many were worried.

Jerrie could hear concern in Teazer's voice.

"Oi dunno Tugger. 'e comes 'ome so late, 'nd oi can always smell other jellicle's on 'im. What if e's gone back ter Macca, or 'e's found sumone else?!" He heard her sob and his heart broke. Jerrie hadn't realised Teazer was feeling this way, he would have told her sooner if he had known.

"Now come on Teazer, you and I both know Jerrie would never go back to old Macca. And as for finding someone else, well, he'd be a fool if he did. You're his soul mate, he knows that. You're just getting worked up over nothing." This was a side of Tugger that was rarely seen, but he couldn't stand seeing a queen cry, that was one of the few things guaranteed to soften the Tugger persona.

"But there's this one smell, always on 'im…maybe yer right…"

"Of course I am, when is the Tugger ever wrong?" Years of experience told Jerrie that Tugger flashed a grin there. "Tonight you should talk to him, tell him what you're feeling, and if it turns out the worst has happened then point him in my direction, I'll whack some sense into that thick head of his." Teazer giggled slightly and tried to sniffle her tears away.

"Thank yer Tugger."

"No worries Teaz, you gonna be alright?"

"Yeah, oi'd better go wash meself up, can't confront Jerrie like this can i?" This time Tugger laughed.

"See you soon Teaz." And with that Tugger left Teazer in front of her human home and headed towards his own, determined to annoy his humans as much as possible tonight.

Jerrie stayed where he was for a while. He hadn't realised how distant and stupid he had been. Going out all the time, never telling Teazer where he was going, and coming home smelling of unknown Jellicle's, no wonder she thought the worst. He knew Teazer would take some time to regain her composure; tears were something she never did by halves, so Jerrie sat against a wall thinking of the best way to tell Teazer the truth.

----x----

Rumpleteazer sat upright in the basket. She was ready to confront Jerrie when he came in, late as usual. It was odd she thought. They didn't have a home time, they'd never agreed to be back at a certain time but somehow he was always late! Was he staying away purposely or were her hormones just making her look for trouble?

At last he came in. He entered the same way as every day, a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Although she had to admit it did look slightly forced today.

"'ello Teazer, yer look beautiful tonight." He got half way across the floor but stopped when Rumpleteazer spoke.

"Don' do that Jerrie!"

"Do what?"

"Don' sweet talk me, oi'm mad at yer I am."

"Whys that me love?"

"Stoppit! What's goin' on? Where do yer go every day?" Tears threatened to reform in her eyes but Teazer fought them.

"Oi was wonderin' when yer'd ask, it's a surprise, yer wanna come along with me termorrow?"

"Why should i?"

"Because I love yer and I want to share this with yer." There was an uncomfortable silence.

"I will come with yer tomorrow Jerrie, but I won' let yer sleep wit me tonight, go sleep in that t v room."

"If that's 'ow yer wants it then so be it." He padded over towards Teazer and gave a quick kiss on the cheek, something she didn't protest to, she even happily sighed. With a grin he headed towards what the humans called a lounge to demand the armchair from the tom human who would be sitting in it.

----x----

The next morning Teazer awoke to the smell of bacon, the human queen was clearly cooking up a treat. Normally she would nick some with Jerrie's help but today Rumpleteazer felt sick to her stomach. Today was the day she found out the truth. She turned over and jumped at the sight of Jerrie sitting calmly on the other side of the basket. This was the first time she could think of that Jerrie had woken up first.

"Wakey Wakey love, it's toime fer tha surprise." Teazer purposely took her time getting up, making sure to stretch seductively for Jerrie. This was a ploy she used whenever they had an argument and it was his fault (which it normally was). Make sure he knows what he's missing if the tiff doesn't work out on Teazer's favour. It was a trick Bombalurina would be proud of.

"Alright then Jerrie, lets go." They walked calmly out the door, something the human was suspicious about, and continued calmly down the street.

----x----

They stated getting into unfamiliar areas and Teazer became overly cautious. Her ears were alert and focused on any noise, her tailed darted back and forth dangerously and her claws were partly out. This didn't go un-noticed on Mungojerrie.

"Calm down love, we're safe, do yer think oi'd let nyone 'urt ya?" Teazer studied her mates face for a moment.

"Nah, oi know yer wouldn't." Her claws went back in but she was still anxious.

The walk continued without another word shared between them. Eventually they reached the Hotel. Jerrie stood in front of Teazer and spread his arms as a magician would.

"Ta Da!" Teazer stared blankly at him.

"A 'oel?"

"No, it's a Hotel, or it was, now it's the 'ome to a new tribe."

"A new tribe? Jerrie what the bloody 'ells going on?"

Jerrie explained how he'd come across the Hotel and Mana all those weeks ago. He explained everything he knew about the tribe, their situation, and why he felt comfortable with them. And lastly he told her why he hadn't mentioned them before.

"Yer a fool Jerrie. Yer think oi'd of ratted yer out ter Munkus? Do yer know me at all?"

"Oi knew yer wouldn' 'ave said anything on purpose, but yer never know what Tanto and Cori could pick up on. There's sum wanted Jellicle's in 'ere, sum of 'em would be killed first 'nd asked questions later, and they'd be tha first ter admit it were right to do so. But they all want a shot at freedom first." Teazer threw her arms around Jerrie, holding herself close.

"Oh Jerrie. Oi've been a bleedin' fool oi ave. Oi thought yer were back with Macca or 'aving an affair." She cried shamelessly into his shoulder fur. "Oi'm so sorry."

"Don't be love. I'm tha one 'oo should be sorry. Oi should've told yer right from the go." He held her until the tears subsided. "Do yer wanna come in and meet everyone?"

"Of course I do."

Jerrie lead her over to the entrance and knocked. Within moments Mana had pulled aside the 'door' and they were in. At first Teazer couldn't believe her eyes. There were Jellicle's of all shapes and sizes in the Hotel. Two young Jellicle's raced in front of her, clearly enjoying a game of tag. Many of the older ones were brooding or talking in small groups. She counted at least seventeen Jellicle's, and that was only the ones she could see. She also noted that a clearly comfortable padded bench top was left strangely vacant.

"dis is Mana." Jerrie gestured towards the petite queen, "and her mate Darkness." He pointed up to the window sill where the dark tom nodded with a smile.

"Rumpleteazer, it's an honour to finally meet you. Mungojerrie does nothing but talk about you." Mana extended her paw in a friendly gesture; she could tell the tiger queen felt uneasy around her and wanted to comfort her in some way. Rumpleteazer returned the gesture cautiously.

"Thanks, I hope my Jerrie 'asn't been causing too much trouble for yer." Jerrie couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes mum." The two young Jellicle's came running back to the trio.

"Hello." The tom chirped happily.

"'ello." Teazer replied, equally chirpy.

"Are you Rumpleteazer?" The young queen slapped the toms arm.

"Don't be so rude Lipsy." She hissed/whispered to him.

"I am, don' worry I don' think yer being rude." A smile played on Teazer's face now; these two already reminded her of the youngsters at the yard. "And 'oo are you two?"

"My names Ellipsis, and this is my sister Eclipse. She's a bully." He said this with a huge grin on his face, Teazer couldn't help but laugh.

"Lipsy! You're so rude! I'm not a bully miss, I'm just a queen." This time Teazer almost fell over with laughter.

"Never were truer words said luv, I loike you already." She turned to her mate. "Oi can't believe you kept this from me, especially when they all seem ter know me, you're gonna pay for that one Jer." All worrying thoughts were lost. Teazer was content that nothing dodgy was going on, now she was just enjoying her old Jerrie again.

"Oi 'ope so love." A devilish smile played on Jerrie's features, good times were certainly ahead.

Jerrie lead Rumpleteazer over to the bench top and made himself comfy. It was comfier than normal because of the queen curled against his side. He couldn't remember when he'd felt this good. Eclipse and Ellipsis joined them, all thoughts of tag forgotten.

----x----

Once they were comfy Didi came over. She looked slightly upset, as she always did. Not long after they arrived at the Hotel Mungojerrie had learned of Didi's story.

Didi and her mate, Asa, were healers from a tribe a long way from here. Back there they were happy. They healed small wounds mostly from falls or small accidents. They had never imagined someone like Macavity could exist until his hench cats discovered them. Healer were extremely rare, a Jellicle might meet one a life time if they were lucky, this old tribe was truly blessed, they had two!

Didi and Asa were soul mates who had known each other as kits. Didi had discovered her powers at a young age, she was playing with a small group of kits and one of them fell onto a shard of glass carelessly left around by a human. Didi was left to comfort the tom while the others ran for an elder, as she held him close she felt a strange sensation, she felt a tingling from where ever her body touched his. As they waited they noticed the wound, a deep one with plenty of blood, start to heal faster than anything they had ever seen. Neither knew what was happening and by the time the other Jellicle's were back the wound was merely a scratch. Each kit got a scolding that day for causing unnecessary worry.

Asa was one of the kittens in that group and he had discovered his powers years later when Didi was giving birth to their first kitten. They had 3 kittens in total, two toms and a princess, Evan, Ivar and Cora. Cora was the baby of the family and the boys were her unofficial guardians during those unruly kitten games.

One day their tribe was attacked by an unfamiliar tom. He brought with him many other toms and an offer. He wanted Didi and Asa to work for him. The ginger tom would not take no for an answer, and certainly didn't want their kittens coming along. He proclaimed with a horrible laugh that he had enough kittens that would grow up to do his bidding, why would he want three more that will just distract their parents? Didi and Asa tried to refuse but the tom made it clear they would be coming with him no matter what. From behind them the parents heard the scream of their youngest. They instantly forgot the ginger tom and ran for their kittens.

A horrifying sight awaited them. Two large toms had Evan and Cora cornered against a wall while Ivar lay before them. Ivar's fur was torn, a sickening wound disfigured his face, and blood was everywhere. Didi and Asa didn't need their powers to see that he was dead. Didi let out a deafening scream at the sight of her baby and lunged for the toms, Asa was one step ahead of her. They tore at the toms with all the power they could muster; they would not let their last two kittens suffer the same fate. The toms may have both of them beat on height and strength, but they parents were more powerful because they knew what they could lose.

Didi and Asa managed to kill the toms but not without suffering their own wounds. The worst was a deep scar that tore Didi's shoulder fur from her. Even to this day she could not grow fur there. Once the toms fell they wasted no time and embraced Evan and Cora for all they were worth. The kittens were hysterical and even their parents comforting voices couldn't calm them down.

Behind them they heard a slow solitary clap. They got up and turned around, each holding a kitten behind them. The ginger tom was standing there alone. In the distance they could see their tribe fighting for their lives, many of them were losing.

"Well done, very well done. You are healers and you can fight. I have, as they say, struck gold with you two." He didn't move from his spot. "Now you will be coming with me. If you come now I will call of my Jellicle's and no-one else needs to die today." A dyeing scream that Didi recognised as belonging to the tom who had helped her discover her powers, rang out.

"And our kittens?!" Asa stated with panting breath.

"They are of no consequence to me, let them stay." Didi and Asa looked at each other, they knew this was the only option. At least they could find comfort in the fact that Evan and Cora would be raised by loving Jellicle's.

"Ok then. We'll come with you. Please let us have a moment to say goodbye." Didi pleaded. The tom looked unimpressed but waved a paw in agreement.

Didi and Asa turned back to their kittens and gathered them in a group hug.

"Babies, always remember we love you. Look after each other and never forget your brother." Didi found it hard to speak as her throat chocked on tears.

"Mum?..." Evan found the courage to speak.

"We're so sorry we've let you down, me and your mum with never forget you. We love you so much." They embraced one last time before another pair of toms forcibly pulled the parents away. Tears flowed freely and they chocked again at the final sight of Ivar's body.

They were lead away from the only tribe they had ever known, completely surrounded so as not to escape.

"My name, as you should know, is Macavity. Remember it, but you will call me sir from now on, is that understood?" Neither Jellicle spoke, or even looked at Macavity. He laughed. "Oh don't be so sad, who knows, you might like it in my lair." He grinned at the lead Jellicle. "Oh dear, I believe we've forgotten someone, where is Ratty? He must have gone back to play with the kittens…" Didi and Asa's head shot up and they tried to run back but it was too late. They heard two screams…and then the world went black as they were knocked into unconsciousness, the last sounds they heard were a mix of kitten's screams and Macavity's laughter.

Since then both of them worked as healers for Macavity, they had no choice. Eventually they planned an escape with Valter, Eclipse and Ellipsis. All was going as planned until one tom saw them. Asa went back to fight the tom to give the others a chance and Didi had to be carried away by Valter. Even now she knew her mate was alive and many knew this was the only thing keeping her alive, inside at least. Her fur was terribly unkempt, her mane was long and raggy, her eyes dull and her ears almost always folded. She had been like that since the death of her kittens, but the loss of her mate made it worse.

Mungojerrie gave Didi a sad smile as she came over. He knew there was no point trying to make her smile, nothing short of Asa himself could do it.

"Two more arrived last night Mungojerrie, but i think only one will make it. I can't heal him alone, if only Asa…" She gained a faraway look but shock it away. "I can only speed up the body's natural healing process; Asa could find the injuries and help direct our powers towards it."

"Oi know Didi, try yer best, tha's all we ask. If 'e dosn' make it we'll make sure 'e gets a proper burial." She nodded and headed back to the old desk. Behind it she had set up her 'hospital'. The curtained off area granted her patients the privacy they deserved.

"Why's she so sad Jer?" Teazer watched the older queen leave with concern.

"Oi'll tell yer later love, oi don' wan' tha kits ter hear it." He held her closer than before.

"Kits…" Teazer sounded like she was trying to remember something. "kits…kits!"

"Teazer, what yer doing?" Jerrie raised an eyebrow and looked at her upturned face.

"Jerrie! Oi wer so mad at yer tha' oi forgot ter tell yer, oi'm pregnant!" Jerrie said nothing. "Jerrie? Yer gonna be a Daddy!"

Eclipse squealed a noise that would put Etcetera to shame. "Congratulations! Ellipsis, there's going to be a kitten around! I love kittens." Teazer couldn't help but giggle.

"Thank you luv." She looked back at Jerrie. "So Jer, you gonna say anythin'?"

Jerrie was staring at nothing, seemingly frozen; he said the only thing that came to his head.

"Bloody 'ell." All three Jellicle's broke down into fits of laughter as Jerrie continued staring.