A/N: I don't have anything to say. Lots of Gus The Theater Cat references in this chapter.

Disclaimer: Didn't I already tell you?

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Chapter 4: Living Beyond Means

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London Theater, guess what city

A while after the sad events of last chapter

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"Who had been an alumnus of Heaven and Hell? That was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend… of… the… Feeeeeeelllllllll!"

The actors bowed as the audience gave them a standing ovation. Roses were thrown onto the stage. The cat who had played the role of Firefrorefiddle also bowed, as far as a cat can do that. The group of cats who were sitting on the highest balcony quickly sneaked out of the theater. In the back alley they met with the star of the show.

"Really Gus, that was one of the best things I've ever seen," Gus's older brother praised him.

"Thank you! I worked really hard for that ending song,"

"How can you know all those lines by heart?"

"Oh, I must know about a seventy speeches by heart, you know. And Bustopher, I honestly didn't expect you'd come!"

"Well, congratulations. Now, can I go the Pothunter's? I'm starving!"

"You could take us with you. I think Gus deserves a feast!" Grizabella proposed.

"Oh, come on, I can't show up there with a whole tribe of cats, can I?"

"We can just stay in the backyard," Gus said.

"Well Bustopher, we must enjoy our time now that we can still jump over the fence," the new Protector Buster agreed.

Bustopher just grumbled. "Fine, but I'll just go through the normal entrance. And when you get caught by the cook, I don't know you!"

As the tribe set off in the direction of one of the city's best restaurants, the leader looked back to see a red and black figure walk in the opposite direction.

"Pluto," he asked, "are you not coming with us?"

The red shadow turned around. "I'm not hungry." He turned again and walked away, with hanging shoulders.

"I don't like this," the leader whispered to his mate as they watched him run away to the Junkyard. "He has been depressed ever since the death of his brother. He still wants to get his revenge on Growltiger, and I'm afraid he's going to do something stupid one day. Then you won't even be able to interfere."

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"So I was just walking backstage, when some actor, I don't remember if it was Irving or Tree, suggested the need for a cat! The next moment I knew I was rehearsing with them!"

All cats laughed and ate some more. They were still in the yard behind the Pothunter's.

"Gus, have some more of these succulent bones!" Buster offered.

"No thanks, I still have to fit in my Fryerflowerfimble costume tomorrow! By the way, it's just before noon's, so I think I'll just dronk in for a drip at the Drones. That's what Stuphober always does!"

"Gus, it's midnight! And are you sure that was water in that bottle you found?"

Gus checked the bottle. "I told you, it says 'voda', that's Slovenian for 'water'."

Buster laughed. "I think you didn't see the K there! And how do you know Slovenian?"

"Oh, I once played some Slovenian guy named… I don't remember."

"Grizabella, eat some more," Deuteronomy insisted.

"No, I don't think there's room for that with the…" She rubbed her belly, that had swollen quite a bit the last weeks.

"Right. Hey, Buster! Please don't get drunk! If Growltiger attacks you have to be sober!"

"No need to worry, Old D, it's just Slovenian water!"

Grizabella escaped the group of toms for a while as she walked in the direction of the glass door that led to the club. It was cold outside. She looked through the glass. It looked so warm and chic in there. She saw Bustopher talking to a tuxedo cat. They were eating shrimps and turkey.

Grizabella couldn't resist any longer and sneaked inside through the door. She walked between the tables until she was in the corner where Bustopher and the other tom were talking. Bustopher froze in the middle of his sentence when he saw her. The other tom turned around to see who he was looking at, and also froze when his eyes met Grizabellla's.

"Oh, hello," he said, "I don't believe we've ever met before! What's a beautiful queen like you doing in a tom-club like this?"

"Oh, Luphus, uh, this is Mrs.… Doving! Grizabella Doving, yes!" Bustopher said quickly.

The cat who apparently was called Luphus took her paw in his. "My name is Luphus Smith. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Doving! Or can I say… Grizabella?" he said as he placed a soft kiss on the back of her paw.

"Uhm, yes, Luphus, Mrs. Doving here was just about to lea-"

Bustopher was interrupted by a smaller tuxedo tom. "Is everything as you wish, Mr. Jones, Mr. Smith and Mrs.…?"

"Doving," she completed his sentence.

It was no surprise they thought she was a rich queen. She was beautiful and she always spent a lot of time to wash and comb her fur.

"Yes, we're fine, Augustus. Mrs. Doving, can I please speak to you for a second?" Bustopher was getting quite nervous. They walked a few feet away from Luphus Smith and Augustus.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" he whispered angrily. If they find out that you're a junkyard cat they'll kick you out as quick and as hard as possible!"

"Well, it certainly doesn't look like they'll find out soon," she defended herself.

"You smell like garbage!"

"So do you! Once a junkyard cat, always the smell of a junkyard cat!"

"Please leave! That's my reputation you're playing with, do you realize that?"

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"Hey Deut, where's your mate?" Gus shouted in the backyard of that same club.

Deuteronomy cocked his head up at those words. He looked around, searching the queen that carried his child. When he didn't find her at first, he panicked. Then, his gaze fell through the glass door and he saw her arguing with his youngest brother inside the club. He panicked even more and ran to the door.

His eyes met Bustopher's and he gestured heavily, asking a wordless question. Bustopher looked around him, as if he as checking if no one saw him, and then gestured back at his brother. It wasn't completely clear what he meant to say, but it looked like he wanted her out of there just as much as him.

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Grizabella turned around to see who Bustopher was 'talking' to. She saw here mate outside the door, with panic in his eyes.

"You see," Bustopher insisted, "You have to go outside! He's worried about you!" He almost pushed her to the door and waved his paws in a 'shoo' way. As soon as he knew she was getting out, he turned around and walked to the other toms again.

"What were you thinking!" Deuteronomy asked. He was quickly taking her back to the back of the yard. "What would happen if they threw something at you, or kicked you, or even kept you as a housecat! What would happen to the baby?"

"I'm sorry, I was just… It's cold here and-"

"I'm not angry, I was just worried. Please promise you won't risk your life or the baby's."

"I promise."

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When the tribe reached the gate to the Junkyard, there was something odd. There was an extremely strong Pollicle scent and the gates were open.

"This isn't safe. I'll go first," Buster said.

He slowly walked through the gates and disappeared behind a dishwasher.

"Clear!"

The rest of the tribe slowly came after him. They walked past piles of junk that had been toppled over. It was only when they reached the clearing that they saw the real damage.

The clearing actually couldn't be really called a clearing anymore. There was junk all over the open space. The car's window was broken. There were several ripped clothes on the floor. A shoe that showed deep markings of sharp teeth. But that was nothing compared to what they found in the pipe.

Red and black fur and a small puddle of blood. From that puddle, a red trace crossed the clearing until the color faded away.

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A/N: I feel bad for every OC-Jellicle I create, because, basically, they all have to die before The Jellicle Ball. I could also send them to the Heaviside Layer, just another way to get rid of a cat. Not totally sure what I'm gonna do with Pluto.

Did you see Grizabella's glamour side unfold? I have a very bad feeling about this.

Well, now we know who actually did was an alumnus of heaven and hell.