Chapter 4
Disclaimer: Only the OCs are mine. DreamWorks owns the rest of these awesome characters.
"What in Grimm's name are you doing here?" Kitty demands, yanking the other cat to his feet.
"We came to look for you, Kitty. It's been eight years since we've seen you," the mysterious stranger remarks.
"And just who might you be?" Puss asks with venom in his voice, his green eyes blazing dangerously as he places a paw on the hilt of his sword.
"I'm no one to be trifled with," the unidentified gato smirks, trying to escape Kitty's grasp in the process.
"Puss, this is Javi," Kitty mumbles as she looks down at her boots.
"Wait a minute, mi amor. You know him?" Puss questions, looking between the two cats.
That's when he notices a clear resemblance in Kitty's and Javi's faces.
"Sí, Ginger. He's my younger brother," Kitty reveals.
"Guilty as charged," Javi gloats, his amber eyes laughing.
"How did you know it was him who attacked me? He was only a blur when he pounced," Puss wonders aloud.
"The top of his tail gave him away. Take a look at it," Kitty says, pointing to her brother.
Puss does as he's told and notices a major characteristic that sets Javi apart from other cats. The whole tip of Javi's tail is missing.
"Holy frijoles," Puss in Boots whispers.
"Yeah, a dog grabbed it when we were kittens. I'm sure you can figure the rest out," Javi explains with pain evident on his face as he shudders.
"Well, I, um—I'm sorry," Puss gulps, not sure what else to say.
"Javi, what do you mean by we? Who else came?" Kitty inquires, her voice containing just a bit of venom.
"Well, you see, that's a funny story," Javi tries to laugh.
"Who. Did. You. Bring?!" Kitty demands, her patience worn thin by her younger brother.
"Father's here," Javi responds. "I brought Esteban, too."
Kitty feels her heart drop in her chest. Her father would not approve of Puss in Boots. He's never been one to like Spanish men, let alone ones who are outlaws. That's why she had planned to marry Puss and then maybe, just maybe, tell her father the happy news. Now, of course, Puss' mother Imelda has been invited, because she loves him and supports any decision he makes. Imelda wants Puss to be happy in any way he chooses. Kitty's father, Diego, on the other hand, wants to tell his daughter what will make her happy. And by "make her happy" he really means what will make him happy.
"Puss, no me siento bien," Kitty whispers to her lover in Spanish, thankful Javi does not know the language.
"¿Por qué? Why don't you feel well, mi corazón?" Puss softly says, pressing one paw to Kitty's cheek.
The tuxedo she-cat does not answer. Instead, she stands in silence looking at Puss in Boots.
"You're crying. Kitty, what's wrong?" Puss asks in concern as tears from Kitty's eyes fall on his paw.
"My father's coming," Kitty sniffs.
"What's so bad about that?"
"It's just-… he doesn't like Spanish men or outlaws. I'm scared he'll try to keep me from marrying you."
"Kitty, you're a grown woman. Only you can decide who you are going to marry. I love you," Puss reminds.
"You're right, Puss. I love you and I'm going to marry you," Kitty smiles.
"Kitty!" a harsh voice calls out.
Puss and Kitty turn around to see a red and white male cat with piercing amber eyes.
"Father," Kitty quietly says while remaining in Puss' arms.
"What do you think you're doing?" Diego, Kitty's father, demands, looking at Puss in Boots with disgust.
"I think I'm in the middle of a rehearsal dinner for my wedding. It's nice to see you, too, Father," Kitty sasses, placing her paw against the side of Puss' face.
"For your sake, I hope you're not marrying that," Diego all but spits at Puss.
"And what's wrong with me?" Puss in Boots angrily remarks, moving his paw to grip the hilt of his sword.
"His name is Puss in Boots, Father," Kitty says with a low growl building in her throat.
"I know who he is. I also know that he will not be able to give you the life you deserve," Diego remarks, venom present in his voice.
"He doesn't need to give me anything," Kitty argues with her father. "I love him. That's enough for me," the tuxedo she-cat continues.
She slowly turns to where her back is facing her father. Puss slowly moves to press a kiss to Kitty's lips, eager to show the older male cat that he does love Kitty Softpaws. Kitty kisses back, aware of her father's displeased growls from behind them. They pull apart a while later and Kitty has a smirk on her face.
"You see? Puss gives me love, and that's all I need," she reveals.
"Kitty, you're naïve. You can't live on love," Diego and Javi tell her.
That statement forces Kitty to bring out the big guns.
"Mother would have let me marry him," Kitty challenges, standing her ground.
"Don't bring your mother into this conversation!" Diego all but roars.
"Why not? It's not like she can speak for herself," Kitty reminds, solemnly thinking of her deceased mother.
Alessandra, a tuxedo she-cat like Kitty with blue eyes, died when Kitty, Javi, and Esteban were eight weeks old. She had been the one to support Kitty in all her dreams and ambitions. Diego never really paid much attention to Kitty, he preferred to train Javi and Esteban.
"We have rules, Kitty! You're not supposed to marry Spanish bandits! They're no good and this Puss in Boots won't love you. I'm just trying to protect you," Diego snaps.
"Mother was Spanish and she loved you with all her heart and soul. You know it as well as I do," Kitty defends, knowing her love for Puss will never fade away.
"Your mother was not a wanted thief! Look, niña, I don't want you to have to live a life on the run because of Puss in Boots and his terrible choices," Diego explains.
"Look, hombre. I'm not that gato anymore. Kitty has changed me and I love her," Puss angrily growls from the shadows.
He hasn't moved or said a word this entire time.
"Well, don't expect my blessing," Diego says.
"We don't expect it, nor do we need it," Puss responds, sassing his future father-in-law.
"You're throwing your life away," Diego mumbles.
"He's right," Javi tells his older sister.
Kitty wheels around to face her brother.
"Why can't you side with me just once?" Kitty asks, wondering why her brother never defies their father.
"There are no sides. He's right," Javi bluntly says.
"Kitty's right, too," a new voice speaks up.
"Esteban!" Kitty breathes, moving to hug her youngest brother.
Esteban is a pale grey male cat with green eyes that always has had Kitty's back. They were partners in crime during the first eight weeks of their lives. He's always been supportive of her every decision and always takes her side.
"Hola, mi hermana," Esteban greets in Spanish, having learned his mother's native language.
He pulls his older sister in for a hug, happy to see her after eight long years.
"Thank you for siding with me, Esteban," Kitty smiles.
"I still don't agree with you. This is the most ridiculous thing you've ever done," Diego tells his daughter.
"How would you know? You haven't been with me for eight years! I grew up alone!" Kitty yells before running back to where Puss is waiting for her.
Puss wraps his arms around her, holding Kitty close to his warm chest. The sound of Puss in Boots' heart comforts Kitty, and she wipes the tears out of her eyes. The ginger tabby always helps to make her feel better.
"Yes, you did grow up alone because your mother died! I'm sorry for that, okay? Now, you are coming back with me to Italy and then you will find a proper husband," Diego commands.
"No."
"What did you say to me, daughter?!"
"I said no, Father. I don't like that," Kitty forcibly tells him while wrapping her paws around Puss' arms.
"Then leave," Diego gruffly says to his only daughter with anger in his eyes.
"I will," Kitty remarks in a disinterested tone.
"Yeah, right," Javi scoffs.
"Right after our wedding, Puss and I will leave and go back to Spain. You'll never have to see us again."
"Come on, mi amor. Let's go finish our rehearsal dinner," Puss suggests, leading his lover away from her feuding family.
"Yes, let's. Puss, I'm so glad I have you. You're all I need, mi rey," Kitty admits to Puss, holding his right paw in her left.
"My king? That's a new one," Puss smirks, echoing Kitty's response from earlier in the day.
"It suits you. Do you not like it?" Kitty laughs, repeating Puss' words with a smile.
"I do like it. Now, I don't want you to think about the argument with your father. It's in the past, mi corazón," Puss whispers, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Okay, Puss. Now, I do believe we have a wedding to finish planning," Kitty remarks with a grin.
"Sí. I can't wait to marry you," Puss assures.
"I can't wait to marry you either, Ginger."
"And whatever happens, Kitty, we'll go through it all together. I can promise you that, mi reina."
Author's Note: And there's Chapter 4! I hope everyone enjoyed, even though most of it was yelling and not as much of Puss and Kitty. I have good news for everyone; there's only one more chapter before Puss and Kitty's wedding! Yes, in Chapter 6, Puss and Kitty will get married and all will be right with their world. :) Sorry it's been a while, but school started back and has kept me busy. Until the next update, my dear readers, and thanks for your continued support!