The following moments were a blur for Tugger. He remembered scooping Mistoffelees into his arms and running. He remembered Munkustrap shouting as Mistoffelees quivered in his embrace. He remembered his own voice shouting inaudibly, the words falling onto his own deaf ears. He remembered fear. Fear for Mistoffelees. Fear for their kitten. Fear of their kitten. As he ran towards Jenny's den, Mistoffelees in his arms Munkustrap in tow he felt as if he was at the same time running towards a precipice of finality. A point of no return. He ran.

The nearer he drew to Jenny's den the louder and more frequent the other voices grew, calling out unintelligible words. Tugger's mind was already racing, full of fear, full of hope. He feared the worst, that the kitten would be stillborn or deformed. He hoped for the best, that their kitten would be as smart and witty as his mate, as handsome as him, and as talented as them both.

He burst through the entrance of Jenny's den, not bothering to knock or announce himself. "Jenny!" he hollered, standing just inside the den, wild eyed and disheveled, crushing his mate to his chest. His eyes darted around the den, trying to find her. He noted Munkustrap's absence, but wasn't about to waste time trying to figure out where his brother had gone.

"Everlasting, Tugger what is it?" Jenny asked, emerging from the back of the den, paws crossed over her chest. "I do have others to see to you know," she chided as Rumpleteazer poked her head out from the back of the den.

"Misto- he- his water broke!" Tugger panted, trying to steady his voice. "We were over in a a clearing and I was giving him a massage and we were laughing and he turned back into a tom and was screaming and Munkustrap came and he turned back into a queen and then his water broke and we don'tknow what's happening with the kitten!" Tugger blurted, hardly stopping for breath.

"Slow down Tugger. What happened?" Jenny was obviously taken aback by the tidal wave of information that had cascaded over her. She blinked at Tugger, unsure if she'd heard what she thought she'd heard.

"Misto and I were alone in a clearing-"

"Short version, Tugger," Jenny said, holding up a paw.

"Mistoffelees turned back into a tom and then made himself a queen again then his water broke," Tugger replied, breathing deeply to steady his nerves.

"Bast, we have to hurry then. Under normal circumstances I'd be worried a bit if the kitten was early, but this? I don't even know what to think. Set him down on the blankets there. Teazer, since you're here go find some water."

"Is he-"

"Tugger, don't you even think about starting any of that," Jenny said, cutting him off. "Now put him down. I know you don't want to let go of him right now, but we need to be ready for when the time comes." Tugger complied, gently laying his mate down on Jenny's blankets, kissing his forehead and taking his paw. "Now Mistoffelees, tell me what you're feeling..."

The rest of what was said was lost on Tugger. His mind was spinning, a maelstrom of emotion. He remembered the day Mistoffelees had had his first bought of morning sickness. He remembered how scared, how lost his mate had looked when he began facing the reality of their situation. He remembered being so certain of all the things he told Mistoffelees that morning, that their kitten would be normal and healthy, that it would grow up and lead a happy life and that everything would be perfect. But as he sat there beside his mate he could feel the dread creeping in. What if he'd been wrong? What if their kitten wasn't healthy? What if their kitten was like Macavity?

"Tugger... Tugger!" He was forced back to reality by the sound of his brother's voice and the feeling of his paw on his arm. "Come on Tugger, you need to get some air."

"But I have to stay here with-"

"Tugger, you're hardly here right now," his mate interrupted. "This is happening, and I need you here with me. Jenny says we still have time before the kitten arrives so go get some air and get back in here so we can meet our kitten." Tugger couldn't help but be surprised by the fortitude in his mate's voice. He looked up at Jenny, Munkustrap, and Rumpleteazer, who'd finally returned with the water, all of them gazing down on him with gentle eyes. He looked down into his mate's eyes and saw the same fear he was feeling.

Munkustrap led him outside where he was immediately hit by a wall of clamoring voices. They were asking all sorts of questions about him, Mistoffelees, the kitten. His head began to spin and he felt unsteady. Munkustrap caught him and eased him down to sit on the exposed edge of a crate before addressing the crowd. Tugger paid no attention to Munkustrap's words - he knew what his brother would be saying anyway. He'd be asking the others to give them privacy, that there was no news yet, and all the rest of the things he always said when something happened.

Tugger blocked the world out as he focused on breathing, forcing himself to focus on nothing but counting his breaths until his mind was calmed. He had to get back in there. He had to be his mate's rock, his anchor. His mate was about to give birth to their kitten, this was no time to show any hint of weakness. He stood and walked back into the den.

"I'm ready."

"Good," Jenny said softly. She was on the blankets beside Mistoffelees, cooling his brow with a damp cloth, brushing a comforting paw over his shoulder. Rumpleteazer sat in Tugger's place, holding the tux's paw, reassuring him. She gave Tugger a soft smile as he took back his place beside his mate. "So far everything is going smoothly. The contractions are going to start coming sooner and sooner, and they'll grow stronger as they quicken so be ready. This is the final stretch..."

Again things became hazy for Tugger. Mistoffelees began to scream and tightened his grip on Tugger's paw, nearly crushing it. Through it all he keep himself strong, putting aside his fears so he could support his mate...

"One last push Misto!" Jenny said encouragingly. "Almost there!" Mistoffelees shrieked into Tugger's ear and tightened his grip on his paw. As the ringing in his ear died down, he began to hear soft mewing. He looked over to Jenny and saw her looking down at a small bundle of black and white fur. "Congratulations boys," she said softly. "You have a son." Tugger looked at the tom kit in her arms, marveling at what he was seeing. A son. His son. Their son. "Come hold him, Tugger."

Tugger took the kitten gently into his arms, seeing his son for the first time. He vaguely heard his brother and Rumpleteazer congratulating him and gushing over his son, but all he could focus on was the squirming kitten in his arms. He beamed with pride when he saw his son had inherited his mane. His mane and face were white, as were his paws. The rest of his fur was silky jet black, save for bands of white on his forearms and thighs. If he wasn't his son, Tugger would've been jealous of him.

"Look at him Misto, he's beautiful," Tugger whispered as passed the kitten over to his mate. He couldn't help but be overwhelmed at the sight when he handed the kitten to Mistoffelees. His stunning mate and his perfect son. His family. Any fears he'd had about becoming a father and having a family melted away right then and there. One look at the two most important toms in his life and he knew that there was nothing they couldn't handle as long as they had each other.

"Do you have a name for him?" Munkustrap asked, looking almost as proud as if it were his own kitten.

Mistoffelees and Tugger glanced at each other before Mistoffelees spoke.

"Sinclaire."

~Fin

Well there you have it queens and toms. I hope you've enjoyed this fic, even if it did take far too long to be completed. Love to those who encouraged and reviewed me, both publicly and privately. Finally, I'd like to dedicate this story to Delphi and thank her for everything.

Love,

~AA406