Apollo didn't know what to do. Jasmine kept sending him to fetch things and asking him to do things to help, but his head was spinning. Firstly, he hadn't even known that Wendy was pregnant. Secondly, he hadn't known that she had a mate. Thirdly, why was she here? Was she…a member of O.W.C.A.? If so, then how? Had Apollo's family adopted her, not knowing she was a secret agent? He'd have to talk to her about it later. Which was an extremely weird concept; talking to his cat.

Finally, the birth was over. Apollo couldn't have said how long it took, but finally, three tiny kittens were nestled next to their mother, suckling. The male cat was sitting by her bedside, alternating between stroking her and stroking the newborns.

After washing her hands, Jasmine returned to Apollo, who had retreated to the other side of the room. "Thanks so much for helping with that, Apollo. I know it was really sudden." She paused. "Are you okay? You look pale."

Apollo pointed a shaky hand at Wendy. "Th-That… W-Wendy… Sh-She's my pet."

Jasmine's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"

Apollo briefly told the story of his father's arrest and his subsequent adoption. "We had a cat called Wendy at my biological parents' house," he finished. "Looking exactly like her."

"Ah." Jasmine paused. "Hastings. I should have realised sooner. I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"Wendy mentioned something about a family called the Hastingses. I guess that was her host family."

"Wh-Where has she been?"

"Here," Jasmine replied. "She's been here for the last half a year. She came to us, bruised and a little battered, almost six months ago and said that her owner chased her out."

"He BEAT Wendy?!" Apollo gasped. "Was she okay?!"

"I helped her, don't worry," Jasmine said. "She wasn't pregnant at that point, but I saw her in here a few months ago and that's when I discovered that she was pregnant. A couple hours later, her then-boyfriend burst in here, found out the news, and proposed."

Apollo grinned, despite himself. "Aww. What's his name?"

"Warren. I think they met here." Jasmine smiled. "Do you want to see her?"

"I…" Apollo hesitated. "Does she have a translator?"

Jasmine nodded. "It's mandatory around O.W.C.A. now."

"Then…yes."

Smiling encouragingly at him, Jasmine led him back to Wendy's bed. By now, Warren was gently cradling two of the kittens, one male and one female. The male had dark grey fur, and the female had tabby fur. Wendy, who was lying on her side again, nursing the last kitten, which was black and white striped, like Warren. Apollo hung back for a moment, as Jasmine went closer. "Hey, Wendy. How ya feelin'?"

"A lot better now that these three little cuties aren't in my belly anymore," she chuckled.

For some reason, she sounded exactly how Apollo imagined she would sound. If he had ever thought about what her voice would sound like, this was it.

"Do you have names for them yet?" Jasmine asked.

Wendy glanced at Warren, who was beaming ear-to-ear. "Yes we do. The male is called Tyler, the black-and-white female is called Amber, and the other female is called Cassie."

"Congratulations, Wendy," Jasmine said warmly. "You too, Warren."

"Thanks, Jasmine," both of the cats said at the same time.

Jasmine paused. "Um…Wendy? There's someone here who wants to speak with you."

"Alright." Wendy was still smiling as she looked up. "Who is-?"

She stopped as she spotted Apollo, who was dithering by the end of the bed. Her face seemed to drain of colour. "A-Apollo…?!"

Apollo shifted his feet. "H-Hi…"

Wendy almost shoved her kitten into Warren's arms as she bounded across the bed and launched herself at Apollo, who only just managed to catch her. The cat wrapped her arms as far around Apollo's chest as she could and clutched him tightly. "I can't believe you're alive!" she choked.

"W-What…?" Apollo was confused.

"I-I saw the police a-and the ambulance a-a-a-and… Oh, Apollo! I thought you three were dead!"

Apollo's heart ached, and he tightly hugged his pet back. It felt a little weird at first, but he very quickly relaxed. He felt like he was hugging an old friend, not a simple pet. Because clearly Wendy wasn't as mindless as she used to appear to be.

"Are Artemis and Athena…?"

"They're fine," Apollo promised. "We were adopted by this rich couple."

"At least you have a family."

"No." Apollo shook her head. "Those people weren't my family. That's why I ran away from them."

"Apollo!" gasped Wendy, pulling back in shock.

"They're not abusive, so Artemis and Athena aren't in danger. They're fine there but I wasn't. So I left."

"Oh, Apollo…" Wendy's voice cracked as she reached up and touched Apollo's cheek with her paw. "I should have been there for you…"

"I get why you weren't, though," Apollo countered. "You met him and started your own family. Wendy, your life span is so short compared to mine. I'm really glad you were able to find a mate and have kids. We were fine on our own, and they'll be fine without me. But I have you now, don't I?"

Wendy looked uncertain. "What are you going to do now?"

Apollo glanced at Jasmine, who was deep in conversation with Warren. "Jasmine offered me an apprenticeship here," he replied. "I'm going to take it."

Wendy's face lit up. "Really?! That's amazing! Y-You could adopt one of my kittens!"

"Well, I was kind of hoping I could readopt you," Apollo said softly.

The she-cat's eyes widened. "Y-You…r-really…? E-Even after I left you?"

"Wendy, you had to flee. Dad hurt you really badly. You couldn't stay there. I really don't blame you for that, please believe me."

Wendy nuzzled Apollo's shirt with her face. "Thank you so much, Apollo. Warren is actually a rescue cat and I haven't had a home since I left your parents."

"Then it's settled," Apollo said, cuddling his cat. "I'm taking all five of you home."

"Five!" Wendy gasped suddenly. "Apollo, you must come and meet my children!"

Apollo laughed as she leapt out of his arms and back onto the bed. After being introduced to Warren, Apollo was given little Cassie to hold. The kitten wasn't even as big as his hand yet, but he fell in love in an instant. Especially when she gave a tiny sneeze. Somehow, baby animals doing completely normal things was fifty times cuter than when an adult did them.

"She's so cute," he whispered.

Wendy, who was holding little Tyler, looked up and smiled. "They all are. In a few days, they'll be awake and moving around. Then they'll be mischief."

"We can handle them," Warren chuckled. "It's the rest of O.W.C.A. I'm worried about."

As the two cats laughed together, Apollo glanced over at Jasmine, who was doing something on the other side of the room. Suddenly, it didn't matter to Apollo that he almost died, or that he was separated from his sisters.

He had a new family.