Disclaimer: I don't own...I can't be bothered writing this on every chapter, we all get the picture.
It had finally arrived, the Jellicle Ball was here. Every single cat in the junkyard had eagerly anticipated its' arrival, even Jenny and Jelly's newborn kits, Etcetera and Pouncival.
Bomba and Demeter spent all day together getting ready, they rehearsed their dance moves and sang through their songs. It had been a rather uncomfortable and difficult day for Bomba, being stuck with her sister whose mate she thought was hitting on her. Demeter on the other hand, found it the perfect excuse to spend time with her sister, as they didn't spend as much time together as they'd like to.
Bomba and Demeter found themselves sharing out the Jellicle's gossip between them, "I don't think that Cassie will take a liking to that will she? I mean Alonzo! Come on, for one, he's already a father and he's only he's only two! For two, he talks too much and for three, Cassie would kill me!" Bomba laughed as she shared this with her sister.
"So, how many people actually know that Alonzo asked you to the Ball?"
"Well, there's you, Alonzo obviously, Tugger, I don't think there's anyone else"
"Why did he ask you if he's mates with Cassandra? Isn't one queen enough?!"
Bomba's face dropped as she heard her sister say those words. if only you knew Demeter. But, she quickly thought of something to reply with.
"Well, he obviously thinks I'm absolutely irresistable doesn't he?" she said, her eyes glinting and her smile broadened.
"Oh, Bomba! What's the REAL reason?"
"Real reason?! Demeter! You can read me like a book! Okay, but you can't tell anyone. He asked me because Cassie's pregnant"
Now this time Demeter's face dropped, and Bomba noticed it.
"What's up Dem? You look like you saw a ghost!"
"Is that what they do to expecting queens in this tribe? Just leave them in their dens and pick another queen?"
"Well, I don't know Dem, maybe he just didn't wanna feel stupid!" Bomba looked out of her den to see the clearing was filling up with the rest of the tribe, she took Demeter's paws and helped her up, "Come on, it's time for some fun!"
Just outside Bomba's den was Munk, he was looking even more handsome than he ever could (in Bomba's eyes), he made her heart skip a beat as he flashed the sisters a delightful smile when they left Bomba's den. He walked towards them and took Demeter's paw in his, he led her off to join in the Jellicle festivities. As they walked away, Bomba noticed Munk look behind him and he shot her a wink, just as Tugger walked up to her, took her paw and followed his brother.
It was after Bustopher's song now, a cat neither of the sisters had met before, but Bomba had a singing part in the song, when there was an ambush scare, the cats all went for cover, while Munk and Alonzo went to investigate.
Bomba and Dem took cover under an upside down wheelbarrow, Bomba noticed that her sister had been acting differently all day but decided not to say anything until now, "Dem? Is something bothering you?"
"Why would you say that? I'm fine and perfectly healthy"
"Demeter, you're my sister, I know there's something wrong, please tell me!"
"Bomba, honestly, there's nothing", she stopped as Bomba gave her the I-know-there's-something-up-so-you-best-tell-me face, she looked down into her lap, then looked back up into her sister's eyes.
"Come on Dem, what's the goss?"
"Okay, it's just...I don't know why on earth I'm worried about this but...I'm, I'm not doing the mating dance at this year's Ball"
"Wh...what? Why not?" Bomba almost screeched in outrage.
"Well, let's just say, Munk and I have already signed on the dotted line"
"So have Tugger and I!"
"Yeah, but..."
"Dems! You mean you're..." Bomba looked around to check nobody was eavesdropping before she continued, "You're pregnant?"
Demeter gave her sister a nod as an answer, then dropped her head. Bomba took Demeter's head in her paws and lifted it so they looked into each others eyes.
"Then, what's wrong?" Demeter looked away from Bomba's gaze, "It's not Mac's is it?" asked Bomba, Demeter's head snapped back round to shoot her sister a glance, "Of course it's not, do you really think I would still be carrying if it were?!" Bomba shrugged then shook her head.
"No, it's Munk's but, I just don't think I'm ready to be having a kit"
Just as Bomba was about to sweep her sister into an embrace, Munk appeared at the entrance to the wheelbarrow. He gave them the all-clear, and the rest of the tribe emerged from their hiding places .
It was time for the reinactment of the Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles. Demeter loved this one, as Munk sang the story to the tribe, she felt so proud having him as her mate. She was absolutely certain he would understand if she didn't want to do the mating dance, but for what reason? She wasn't ready to tell him about the kit.
It had come very quickly, and once all of the cats had done a quick solo, the mating dance had come. Demeter had needn't have worried, a few cats didn't mate, Jenny and Jelly because they'd just had their kits, their kits, and as it so happened, Munkustrap. His father had asked him to keep an extra eye on the tribe after the ambush scare.
There were a few more songs before the sisters were due to perform their number. The sisters met Jenny and Jelly's mates, Skimbleshanks and Gus, for the first time since they had joined the tribe. Both toms had jobs, Gus being a feline star at the local theatre, and Skimble was the stationmasters cat. Skimble's song was before Bomba and Demeter's big debut.
The introduction to their song began and the tribe took seats all around the clearing like they were watching a Cabaret act. Demeter was the first to sing, while Bomba lay behind her on the tyre and waited for her cue.
"I'll tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!", Bomba stood up as Demeter kneeled on the floor, all watching could tell they had rehearsed this lots. They were now singing together and it was coming to the end of the song, "Macavity, Macavity, Macavity, I'll tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!"
On that last note, there was a round of laughter and some crashing...
"Macavity!" Demeter screeched, she needed no one to prompt her, she knew his scent by memory, the only thing was she couldn't see him.
Old Deuteronomy came rushing over to her, just a little too fast for his large frame, Demeter just jumped onto his back, he began to spin, faster and faster until she flew off his back with his fur in her paws, it revealed none other than...
"MACAVITY!" screeched the tribe as the disguise was hastily cast aside.
Munk immediately ran in front of his mate to protect her from her old mate, and his brother. Macavity let out a cold, cruel cackle as he unsheathed his claws.
Munkustrap, Alonzo and Skimbleshanks put up a great fight which sent him packing back to his warehouse with a few broken ribs, gashes here and there and Skimble had whipped him up with his pocket watch, causing him to break both his wrists (and they say cats land on their feet? Yeah, right!)
Although the other two did contribute a lot to saving the tribe, Munk received the worst injuries. He was left to the care of Demeter, Jelly and Jenny, but mostly Jenny and Jelly as they were the two queens who were nurses.
After all the commotion, Demeter thought it best not to tell Munk until he had fully healed. He'd received two bruised ribs, a tear in his left ear, a deep gash in his leg and Alonzo had accidentily sliced his tail.
Bomba had now ventured over to the where the three queens were nursing Munk, with her new tom of the moment, the charming, the handsome, the one, the only, Rum Tum Tugger. Demeter had always laughed at how her sister had a new tom almost every moon, she'd been that way ever since they worked for Macavity, and now she had brought that part of her personality with her.
"Hey, Demeter. How is our hero of the hour? Not too hurt I hope?" exclaimed Bomba, who was leaning against Tugger's chest and he had his arm around her waist.
"Well, he'll be fine in a few days, but he has bruised ribs"
"No action for him for a few days then?!" joked Tugger. Demeter blushed and Jenny shot him a look as Bomba laughed.
"Dems, can I have word?" asked Bomba.
"Sure, shall we go outside?"
"Yeah".
They left the makeshift hospital wing, and stood around the corner of it. "Dems, have you told him yet?"
"Well, I haven't had much of a chance yet, what with Macavity making a guest appearance!"
"Well, do it tonight, or I will!" Bomba's tone seemed a little too harsh for timid sister, "Sorry Dem, I didn't mean for it to come out like that, just the longer you leave it, the worse you'll feel"
Demeter cowered under her sister's glare but, deep down she knew she was right.
"Okay, I'll tell, I'll tell him tonight, and you won't say anything?"
"Course not, what do you take me for?"
They laughed and re-entered the sick bay.
Will Demeter tell Munkustrap about their kitten? Will Bomba keep her promise about not saying anything to him? What else will happen? I don't even know yet, but stay tuned, it will get juicy in the next chapter, just wait and see: )